Valerie Loucks, of Attica, and Chelsea Shaw, of Caledonia, have been awarded scholarships of up to $2,000 each by the Livingston-Wyoming Arc Foundation to assist the graduating seniors as they pursue careers relating to people with disabilities. Valerie and Chelsea were recognized for their accomplishments on Friday, June 6, at The Arc of Livingston-Wyoming Annual Dinner, held at the Genesee River Restaurant in Mount Morris.

Foundation scholarships are awarded to one college-bound student each from Livingston and Wyoming Counties. Eligible students must pursue a career choice leading directly to working with people with intellectual and other developmental disabilities.

Valerie is a graduating senior at Attica High School (Wyoming County), where she maintains a Grade Point Average of 95 percent, and Chelsea is a graduating senior at Caledonia-Mumford (Livingston County), where her GPA is 90 percent.

Valerie plans to pursue a career in Physical Therapy. “As a Physical Therapist, I will help persons with developmental disabilities overcome physical setbacks to be all they can be,” Valerie says. She has applied to the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford, and to Ithaca College.

Valerie has been active in the National Honor Society, Leader Academy, cross country, swimming, math team, drama club, and as a volunteer with Special Olympics, community food drives, and Habitat for Humanity. She also participated in the Tour de Cure bike ride for diabetes and Ride for Roswell.

Chelsea plans to be a Childhood/Special Education Teacher. “I want to become a 4th Grade teacher, and I want to be certified in Special Education so that I can teach students with developmental and physical disabilities,” she says. Chelsea plans to attend Roberts Wesleyan College in Rochester.

Chelsea is class president and a member of National Honor Society. She has been active in drama and chorus, as a middle school tutor, soccer coach, and as a volunteer with Girl Scouts, Pre-K Fun Nights, the Avon Corn Festival, nursing home Bingo, and town park clean-up.

The amount of each scholarship will be a maximum of $2,000, payable in $500 amounts annually.

Scholarships are made possible by the Livingston-Wyoming Arc Foundation, which is the fundraising arm of the Arc of Livingston-Wyoming. The foundation has granted scholarships annually since 1994. In addition to awarding student scholarships, the foundation funds such purchases as adaptive equipment and camp scholarships for people with disabilities.

For additional information, contact Livingston-Wyoming Arc Public Relations Specialist Bonnie McGoldrick at bmcgoldrick@lwarc.org or (585) 658-2828 ext. 108.