The first FSC scholarship in honor of Brenda Swain is awarded

When the FSC Board of Directors decided to create a college scholarship in honor of Executive Director Emeritus, Brenda Swain on the occasion of her retirement, we never imagined that it would be awarded to one of our own volunteers.

Trevor Hodgson, who graduated from Falmouth High School last spring and is now a first-year student at Bentley University in Waltham, MA, is the first recipient of the Falmouth Service Center Community Services Scholarship in honor of Brenda Swain. Trevor, who is undecided about his academic major, is taking a selection of courses at Bentley. In keeping with his long commitment to community service, Trevor will also participate in a yearlong in-service learning program mentoring young students in an after-school program for at-risk youth.

While volunteering for many Falmouth organizations and causes, much of Trevor’s involvement has been through the National Honor Society, as well as Falmouth High School’s Interact Club. The Club’s purpose is two-fold: to support the school community and to promote international understanding.

At FSC, Trevor’s presence is a welcome and familiar one where he volunteers for our Fresh Start back-to-school program and our holiday programs. Most recently, Trevor spent last summer volunteering at our Hand in hand Thrift Shop. He accepted donations, sorted and prepared donations for sale and always brought his willingness to work hard. His strong commitment to giving back to his community and his winning smile were always evident.

We recently spent some time with Trevor at Hand in hand and had an opportunity to ask him what inspired him to volunteer for the Falmouth Service Center. Without missing a beat, he said “the mission of the Service Center, as well as the important work of the organization in helping neighbors in need.” He added quickly, “as an educator, my mother is my inspiration because she has been my constant guide for giving back, for bringing joy to others, and for making a difference in people’s everyday lives. I can only hope to do as much for others some day.”

When asked what it meant to him to receive the first ever FSC scholarship named in honor of Brenda Swain, Trevor said “any thought or any sentence that has my name connected with both the Falmouth Service Center and Falmouth’s Citizen of the Year, Brenda Swain, is an honor and a privilege. I hope that I am able to continue Brenda’s life-long dedication to giving back to our special community of Falmouth.”

Like Trevor, Brenda Swain grew up in a household where the example for community service started at a very early age. Her parents modeled volunteerism and inspired Brenda’s own predisposition for helping others. Even now, after retiring from nearly two decades of service as FSC’s executive director, Brenda is happy, enjoying each day with her family and serving our community. Not only is Brenda volunteering regularly at the Falmouth Senior Center, but she also can be found working alongside her son, Andy, in his new food truck business venture, The Filling Station.

Brenda’s distinguished career on the Upper Cape began in the 80’s at Cape Cod Child Development where she was the Director of the Falmouth Pre-School and served as the Cape-wide Head Start Director. Brenda later served for seven years in a Massachusetts Department of Education funded program, “Young Children First!” In 2002, she was selected by a committee of board members, volunteers and clients to serve as the executive director of the Falmouth Service Center where she worked tirelessly with support from her family, staff and many scores of volunteers.

In addition to her work life, Brenda’s service to the community includes organizations such as the Samaritans, the Audible Local Ledger, the Council on Aging and serving as a Falmouth Town Meeting member.

Always reflected in Brenda’s work and service are her values: leading from the heart and setting an example of compassion for others; sharing her dreams and bringing others along; creating communities within communities among individuals and agencies; nurturing a culture of friendship, respect, support, inclusiveness, and love; and erring – always – on the side of generosity.

For the FSC Board, naming the pantry “Brenda’s Fresh and Healthy Pantry” on the occasion of Brenda’s retirement seemed important given her determination to provide neighbors in need with healthy and nutritious grocery choices. Displaying a plaque and photograph in the Pantry noting Brenda’s years of service and extraordinary accomplishments seemed equally fitting. But the Board was searching for something permanent and lasting, something that would recognize and inspire young people to carry on in her footsteps, something that would ensure that Brenda’s legacy of community service and generosity of spirit would continue in perpetuity.

Thus, at the annual Falmouth High School Scholarship & Awards Night this spring, the Scholarship Association of Falmouth (SAF) had the opportunity to present the newly established FSC scholarship. This $2500 annual scholarship is designed to recognize a senior who most embodies the values by which Brenda lives her life. “I am delighted that Trevor Hodgson is the recipient of the very first Brenda Swain Scholarship. The Board is proud of his accomplishments and believes that he is the perfect choice to receive the first Scholarship," said Catherine Kligler, president of the FSC Board of Directors, when she heard the good news. In early August before Trevor headed off to Bentley, Brenda and Trevor met for the first time at the Service Center. Each was so grateful for the opportunity to meet the other. Brenda was eager to learn more about Trevor’s service, his dreams for the future, and the examples his mother and older brother set as his role models. Trevor’s smile radiated admiration, respect and honor as the first of “Brenda’s Scholars.”

It warmed our hearts – as we hope it does yours -- to see these two together smiling and joined in service to family and community with compassion for others.