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CREC Foundation announces Ana Grace Love Wins Scholarship
(Hartford, Conn.) In conjunction with the eleventh anniversary of the Sandy Hook tragedy, the CREC Foundation is proud to announce its newest Scholarship Fund—The Ana Grace Love Wins Scholarship.
The scholarship is dedicated to Ana Grace Márquez-Greene, the daughter of Jimmy Greene and Nelba Márquez-Greene, and sister to Isaiah Márquez-Greene. Ana was one of the students murdered in the Sandy Hook massacre on December 14, 2012. In memory of Ana, the Márquez-Greene family has partnered with CREC to offer this four-year award to honor what should be the natural cycle of their daughter, Ana Grace’s, college years. She would likely have graduated high school in 2024. The Márquez-Greene family hopes the scholarship serves as a reminder that perseverance, hard work, and community can prevail—even in the most tragic of circumstances.
“As graduates of CREC schools, we are enthusiastic champions of the specialized study, academic rigor and enhanced learning opportunities that come from being with others outside your own circle,” said Nelba Márquez-Greene, on behalf of herself and Jimmy. “We have such positive memories of our years as students and later as staff and believe this is exactly what the world needs right now.” To be eligible for the award, the applying student must be a 2024 graduate from a CREC Magnet School or the Hartford Region Open Choice Program who has excelled academically and has demonstrated an interest in the arts.
The scholarship award is for one student for a total of $25,000 and is renewable up to four years at $6,250.
Applications are due to the CREC Foundation by April 2, 2024, and interested applicants can find the application here: https://www.crec.org/foundation/docs/Ana_Grace_Love_Wins_Scholarship_application_.pdf
In addition to being a CREC or Open Choice Student with an arts interest, applicants must submit three letters of recommendation, have a GPA of 3.0 or higher, be accepted to a four-year college program, have a demonstrated financial need, and agree to public recognition of the award with the Márquez-Greene family.
In 2014, CREC Greater Hartford Academy of the Arts Elementary School was renamed in honor of Ana Grace. CREC Ana Grace Academy of the Arts Elementary School served students grade PreK-5 in its Avon facility until its merger with CREC Greater Hartford Academy of the Arts Middle School in January 2022, when CREC opened the CREC Ana Grace Academy of the Arts PreK-8 school in Bloomfield.
