Ria Padayachee and Sarah Daponde earn a full ride to Framingham State through the Mancuso Scholarship

FRAMINGHAM – Coming from a one-parent household, the cost of attending college was a significant source of stress for East Longmeadow High School graduate Sarah Daponde and her dad. But thanks to the Mancuso English and Humanities Scholarship, the aspiring writer now has the chance to earn her bachelor’s degree at Framingham State University without having to pay for tuition, fees, room or board.

“It a huge deal and takes a load off of everyone’s back,” says Daponde, who is majoring in English. “I already had a passion for English and the scholarship lets me study it without the stress of debt. I’m very grateful.”

Daponde and Ria Padayachee are the 11^th and 12^th recipients of the Mancuso Scholarship, created in 2017 through a generous donation from former Framingham State English instructor Halcyon Mancuso, who currently serves as the Executive Director of the University’s Mancuso Humanities Workforce Preparation Center, as well as a mentor to all scholarship recipients.

Padayachee is a Framingham native and the daughter of immigrants from South Africa. She is majoring in Communication Arts at Framingham State.

“I am so grateful for the scholarship,” she says. “My brother is also in college, and having to pay two full tuitions was going to be really hard on my family. To be able to lift that financial burden means a lot.”

Padayachee says she is looking forward to getting involved with student clubs and organizations and making friends during her time at FSU. She does not know for sure what she wants to do after she graduates, but has thought about becoming a news anchor.

Halcyon Mancuso has dedicated her charitable giving at FSU toward promoting the power of the humanities to create vibrant thinkers, engaged citizens, and skilled professionals for the 21^st Century workforce. In addition to the scholarships, she founded and directs the Mancuso Humanities Workforce Preparation Center, which works with students, faculty and employers to promote the value of the humanities.

“Ria and Sarah are very deserving of this support and I’m excited to work with them throughout their time at Framingham State to ensure they graduate with the knowledge and skills they need to pursue successful and meaningful careers in the humanities,” Mancuso says.

Two Mancuso Scholarships are awarded each year, with one being reserved for an English major and the second rotating between the other eligible humanities subjects at FSU (Art History, History, Communication, Media & Performance, Arts, Liberal Studies, Spanish, World Languages).

Mancuso Scholars must commit to several requirements to maintain eligibility, including participating in extra-curricular activities, meeting regularly with the Career Development Office, completing at least two internships, and maintaining at least a 3.0 GPA.