Port Chester H.S. Students Seeks Community Support in Scholarship Bid

Astrid Vargas, a senior honrs student at Port Chester High School, saw an opportunity to both win a college scholarship and make a difference in Port Chester. Now she is looking for community support to make it all happen.

She is one of 17 semi-finalists in the MetroPCS “#makechange competition."  Each has won a $2,500 college scholarship but only one will win a $10,000 for tuition and $10,000 for a community grant. 

To win, Vargas needs friends, family, classmates and the Port Chester community to vote for her at http://leadersandscholars.com. Astrid’s idea is in the second row, first column on the page. 

“Like” it and, and if you Tweet, then re-Tweet her idea. If she wins, she will receive another $7,500 in scholarship money and the District will receive $10,000. The last day to vote is March 31.

Vargas wants to dedicate the $10,000 grant to the Port Chester athletic department to create a Swimming Rams team. An avid swimmer in a school without a swim team, Astrid was not able to win a swimming scholarship to college and wants the students who follow her to have that opportunity. 

“Talented swimmers are at a disadvantage since our high school funds do not cover the expenses for a swim team,” she said in one of the three essays she wrote as part of her “#makechange” application. 

She has already reached out to District Health, Physical Education and Athletics Director, Joseph Durney, for help in budgeting her proposal. 

“The $10,000 grant would provide for a year’s program and would set it in motion,” she adds. 

Vargas is a member of the National Honor Society, and honor societies in math, science, Spanish and music. A member of the softball and tennis teams, the Color Guard and Winter Guard, the student Senate and the PCHS Chorus, Vargas volunteers at The Carver Center and the 21^st Century after school program.