New scholarship to encourage young people interested in politics

June 4, 2019 | G. Michael Dobbs
news@thereminder.com

A new scholarship honors the late David Vigneault.
Reminder Publishing submitted photo

SPRINGFIELD – One of the city’s most active and enduring political figures will be honored with a scholarship to help young people with political aspirations.

Former state Rep. Paul Caron has announced the creation of the Dave Vigneault Political Scholarship. He explained to Reminder Publishing that for the next five years, one Springfield high school or college student would be selected to receive $1,000 to assist in educational expenses.

“Dave’s whole life was social activism,” Caron said. “I thought there would be no better tribute than to help young people whom he was known to mentor.”

Vigneault was a state representative from 1961 to 1972. After leaving office, Vigneault remained very active in local and regional politics. He died from pancreatic cancer on Feb. 13.

Interested students should inquire about the applications at their school principal’s office, Caron said.

Applicants must submit an essay on “the importance of young people getting involved in the political process.” Applications are ?due on June 15 and will be judged by the eight member Dave Vigneault Scholarship Review Committee including Caron; Tony Cignoli; Karen Hart; Mary Moge, daughter’s of Dave’s longtime family friend and life’s partner, Karel Welch; Springfield City Councilor Jesse Lederman; Victor DaVila, president of the Forest Park Civic Association; Hampden County Sheriff Nick Cocchi; and Brian Vigneault (Dave’s nephew).

The 2019 Scholarship Award recipient will be named by July 1.

Caron said that after settling Vigneault’s estate there was $5,000 left over, which is being used as the basis of the scholarship. Caron is hoping others will consider contributing to the fund.

Caron added the recipients of the scholarship would also receive a copy of the acclaimed film “Mississippi Burning.”

Caron recalled, “In 1965 Vigneault, was arrested in Mississippi, after joining the Freedom Riders and traveling South to help register black voters. Arrested at the point of a shotgun, Vigneault was jailed by members of the Nashoba County Sheriff’s Department on charges of disturbing the peace, and refusing to obey a police officer.

“Ironically, the man who arrested him was Deputy Sheriff Cecil Price, one of 18 people who had been arrested and charged in the slaying of three civil rights workers in Mississippi the previous year. Felony charges against all 18, which included members of the Nashoba County Sheriff’s Department, were dropped.

“While putting Dave in the jail cell, Deputy Sheriff Price was overheard saying, ‘We’ll take care of this guy, by letting him out ?at 11 o’clock tonight, and let the ‘night riders’ take care of him’. Deputy Sheriff Cecil Price, was a member of the White Knights of the Ku Klux Klan, and was the inspiration for the 1988 movie ‘Mississippi Burning.’”

“Dave spent his life involved in the political process, and always gave of his time in mentoring the next generation of political leaders,” Caron said.

Share this: