The Margaret Chatellier Scholarship, a Ministry of KCPC Presbyterian Woman

A History of the Scholarship
by Polly Wright

    From time to time I am asked to talk about Peg, as we lovingly knew her.  So those of you who have heard me before, bear with me because we have many people in our congregation who don't know about her.  You have all seen our beautiful cross that hangs in the front of our church.  She had it made as a memorial to her young son, Marshall Ramsey, who died in a fire in her home in Ohio.  Beyond being a mother, a wife and the owner of a real estate agency she was a friend to all who knew her.  She was my friend from the day that I met her when she showed Don and me the town of New London and all that made it what it is.  She took us every place, schools, the hospital, the only bank in town thirty-eight years ago, Cricenti's Market, several houses for sale and at the end of the day she showed us the property on Maple Lane that we bought.  It belonged to her.  She became our neighbor and our friend.  She worked at being a friend.  Many a time she would put together impromptu dinners with a diverse group of people and it was always entertaining because Peg made it work.  Sometimes it would be just the two of us for lunch to talk about the church.  

    Peg was a central figure in New London and worked for years at the Barn Players wearing many hats.  She had a love for young people and a great respect for them and so her role at the Barn included being a friend to whomever needed a friend.  

    She was sensitive to others feelings to the point of discomfort to herself.  For example:  she let me feed her food with onions in it for eighteen years and never told me that she couldn't eat onions.  I found out one day when were discussing a menu for a church supper and she said:  "Do you think we could have a main dish without onions.  There are some of us who can't tolerate them"  

    Peg loved her church and her community and she enthusiastically involved herself in ways which were an inspiration.  She didn't judge people and she was an advocate for the young as a member of the school board for several years.  Peg was the first youth group leader in our church.  She had a wondeful imagination and creativity and the youth had great respect for her.  

    And so at a Presbyterian Women's meeting one morning in Nancy Nilson's living room, Peg asked if we could put in our budget an amount of money to establish a scholarship fund for our youth to promote, support and encourage scholarship and participation of our young in the life of the church.   Upon learning of her illness, Presbyterian Women decided to name this fund in her honor.  Peggy was deeply moved by this decision and each year we honor her memory and her ideals by this fund raiser. 

Scholarship Recepients:

Laurie Amweg-1994
Marianne Wall-1995
Alex McDonald-1996
Matthew Young-2000
Jessica Gutgsell-2001
Rebecca Bride-2003
Stephanie Young-2003
James Rhodes-2004
Emily Rhodes-2006
Kristine Jarvis-2007
Danielle Smerald - 2010
Elise Hollinger-2010
Anysia Howell-2010
Jesse Smerald - 2010
Elizabeth Merrill-2011
Dan Stevens - 2011

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