If you have any questions regarding our Scholarship program please contact Jessica Goodspeed 518 210-7035 or Jane Schramm 518 836-1901 or Judy Brinkman 518 366-4695.

2024 RECIPIENT - CATHERINE RAYCROFT Memorial Scholarship

This scholarship is awarded to a deserving woman over age 25 who is returning to her educational studies.

NICOLE VILLAVIENCIO

The Catherine H. Raycroft Scholarship Award

This Scholarship originated in 2009 and is awarded to a woman who works or lives in Schenectady County and has interrupted her college or professional training and is returning to formal training.

Cay Raycroft was an honor student who enjoyed sports, choir, and drama. She grew up in Ohio and was the national president of Baptist Youth Fellowship. A graduate of Chicago’s Baptist Women College, she received her MSS from the Bryn Mawr School of Social Work. She was married to David Raycroft for 53 years; they had two children and two grandchildren. Cay was director of education at a church in Delmar, MO, executive director of the Philadelphia YWCA, and active in community development around the world. She reorganized services at the Charlton School for Girls.

Her major contribution in Schenectady was with the Human Services Planning Council, Inc., where she worked for twenty years, and where Cay and her staff helped Schenectady County develop the County Public Health Department, Youth Board, Office for the Aging, battered women’s shelter, housing projects and criminal justice program—all highly successful entities today. She was  honored by countless organizations for her service on many boards and task forces. Cay Raycroft was an active professional humanitarian and advocate for human rights her entire life. Sadly we lost Cay in 2017.