Scholarships and Awards

Nancy Digrezio Memorial Scholarship

The Nancy DiGrezio Memorial Scholarship was established in 2007 in memory of former YWCA Board Member Nancy DiGrezio, a long-time local advocate for social justice. The scholarship is awarded annually to a high school senior who lives or attends school within the YWCA Greater Newburyport’s service area* who is a leader and peacemaker among her or his peers; whose actions exemplify tolerance and understanding of differences; and who, by example, empowers other students to respond to acts of intolerance and discrimination.

The YWCA will accept scholarship applications beginning on the national celebration of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. An application screening committee of the YWCA Board and community members will select the scholarship recipient. The scholarship will be announced at the Annual Meeting of the YWCA Greater Newburyport and will be awarded to the recipient at the year-end senior awards assembly at the recipient’s high school, so that he or she may be recognized in front of his or her peers, teachers and family. 

This award is closed 2024

*The YWCA Greater Newburyport serves the thirteen communities of Newburyport, Newbury, West Newbury, Salisbury, Amesbury, Merrimac, Georgetown, Rowley, Ipswich, Seabrook, Hampton, Hampton Falls, and Kensington.

Previous winners:

Connie Grasso Award

The Connie Grasso Award was established in 2015 by the YWCA Greater Newburyport to recognize individuals who, through their professional or volunteer lives, have impacted their community positively by supporting women’s health issues as Connie did. As an employee of the YWCA, Connie was passionate about growing and furthering the reach of programs like YWCA Encore Plus, and My Life, My Health, which improved the lives of women and those suffering from the effects of breast cancer and chronic disease. Through the establishment of this award, we hope to shine the light on members of our community who share Connie’s passion and commitment to community and women’s health.