Fels Commuter Scholarship Winner Is the Cat's Meow

 

Alycia Holds Magic

‘"How do you say "thank you" for a scholarship valued at $16,000?"' asks Alycia Blanchette of Dudley, Mass. This year, Blanchette is one thirteen students receiving the Gerald and Marilyn Fels Commuter Scholarship for attending Nichols College.

Gerald and Marilyn Fels are deeply committed to the health and welfare of the towns of Webster and Dudley, in their low-key financial support to help student commuters with the cost of a private education, by their quiet stewardship of animal shelters, and as champions of the Webster-Dudley Boys & Girls Club.

 "When I got the Nichols' email asking for student volunteers to help at a cat shelter, I thought it was a perfect way to thank the Fels for so generously helping me because I know that Mrs. Fels loves cats," says Alycia. A junior majoring in management, she volunteers every Tuesday night at the Community Cat Connection with Webster residents Jane Gogolinski and Peter Meszaro and Dudley residents Diane Beaudry and her son, Scott.

Even with tests and homework hanging over her head, Alycia cheerfully mops the floors, does laundry and cleans the cages.  "Actually, what I like to do most is offer a lap to Dudley. He's a beautiful boy with a fabulous, bushy tail. I'd love to take him home, but I already have two cats!"

Alycia is particularly upset that the mother cats are the last to get adopted. "Everyone wants the kittens," she says. "What people don't realize is that the mothers are very lovable and gentle. Many just had owners who weren't responsible enough to spay or neuter them."

Alycia and Scott Beaudry are very adept at remembering every cat's name. Scott, who's a member of Dudley Boy Scout Troop 273, volunteers as part of his effort to earn a Citizenship in the Community Merit Badge. He believes it's important to educate the public about spaying and neutering. "We have both enjoyed our time volunteering," says Diane Beaudry, "because we know that the more people who lend a hand, the easier the workload." Diane's other son, Adam, graduated from Nichols in 2005 with a major in accounting.

Alycia loves to watch Peter Meszaro support the stressed felines as they adapt to life off the streets. He's affectionately called the "cat whisperer" by shelter workers. But the shift goes smoothly thanks to the strong supervision of Jane Gogolinski, who closes the shelter every Tuesday night only after all the cats are safely in their cages and have been given her best wishes for "sweet dreams."

Alycia will be taking a break from volunteering because she's just been given a wonderful summer internship with Target. She attended the Nichols College Career Fair March 4^th dressed in a business suit with resume in hand and sold her talent for retail to one of the Target regional managers against some stiff competition. "I'm thrilled to have such a meaning summer job in my management major," she says, "but I'll miss the kitties."

Alycia is keeping her fingers crossed that Dudley will find the perfect owner. "It takes a team to make the shelter run smoothly," she notes as she gives Dudley one last hug. "And it takes a team to help make my dreams of a business career come true. I just can't thank the Fels enough for being in my corner."

Dudley	Mom cat tries to rescue one of her four climbing kitties.
Izzy gives me a friendly head-butt, his favorite greeting for shelter volunteers.
Pickles is timid and depressed.	Pete, a cat "whisperer", chats it up with Tigger.