Scholarships

Bette Smedley Charles graduated from Downingtown High School as a member of the Class of 1958.  She greatly enjoyed her high school years, earning excellent grades and participating in many activities.  After graduating, she became active with the Alumni Association. The friends she made in school proved to be lifelong friends.  Reunions became much more than once a year event. Legendary holiday parties, monthly lunches and summer picnics with her “gang,” as she affectionately called her classmates, filled her calendar. The school spirit Bette experienced in high school positively affected the rest of her life. Bette passed away in 2016 at the age of 75. Many members of the Class of ’58 attended her memorial service.

Bette’s family has established the Bette Smedley Charles, Class of '58, Memorial Scholarship in her honor. Each year a $500 scholarship will be awarded to one graduating senior from Downingtown School District with a minimum 3.0 GPA who displays genuine school spirit.

To make a donation to the Bette Smedley Charles, Class of '58, Memorial Scholarship, please email your DCEF leaders.

Thomas Evans graduated from Downingtown High School as a member of the Class of 1964. He excelled in woodworking and enjoyed his “Industrial Arts” classes the most.  After graduating, he went to work at Lukens Steel and worked there for 40 years.  Woodworking was a passion of his that he enjoyed all the years of his life.

Thomas passed away in 2018 at the age of 73. Thomas' family has established the Thomas Evans Memorial Scholarship in his honor. Each year a scholarship will be awarded to one graduating senior from Downingtown High School West who has a talent in, or a passion, for woodworking.

To make a donation to the Thomas Evans Memorial Scholarship, please click here

In 2017, the Jerome Nowak scholarship was established as a gift from Brett Gerry, a former Downingtown High School student, who wanted to honor his coach.  Jerome Nowak, retired DHS-West Tech Ed teacher, was Mr. Gerry’s cross-country coach. During that time, they won two Ches-Mont titles and qualified for the Pennsylvania State Championships.  Coach Nowak is recognized as a terrific coach and mentor, teaching athletes the importance of perseverance, sportsmanship, decency and respect for others, and above all else, humility. 

After graduating from Downingtown High School in 1989, Mr. Gerry went on to earn a bachelor’s degree Colgate University, a masters from Yale University and a J.D. from Yale Law School.  Mr. Gerry always remembered his favorite coach as he moved on with his life, serving as an associate counsel to President Bush, an attorney for Goodwin Procter LLP, a law clerk at both the United States Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit and the Supreme Court of the United States, before moving to Boeing and being named President of Boeing Japan. 

Each year a graduating senior from one high school who is pursuing technical or vocational training is selected to receive a $5,000 scholarship.

To make a donation to the Jerome Nowak Fund & Scholarship, please click here.

Emily was a remarkably talented DHS West graduate who died at age 22 never getting the opportunity to realize her dream of a career on Broadway.  Her parents have set up a $1,000 scholarship for a graduating senior from DHS - West.

To make a donation to the Emily Francella Singleton Fund, please click here.

Florence W. March set up a trust in her husband's name - Charles A. Way - a Downingtown graduate and recognized by Downingtown in the Hall of Fame.  Each year a male and female senior scholar athlete from Downingtown West is awarded a $1,000 scholarship.

Tommy Slater was a much-loved student at West Bradford Elementary School. Tommy passed away on September 24, 2013.  A memorial fund to benefit West Bradford Elementary School has been set up in Tommy's name. Funds raised from this drive will benefit educational projects approved by Tommy's parents.  

To make a donation to the Tommy Slater Fund, please click here.