Contributor Profiles

Anna Hudson Erbacher

Erbacher Scholarship Helps Students Fulfill Their Dreams

"I am so thankful that there are people out there who care about my education and want to help me fulfill my dreams. The Anna Hudson Erbacher Scholarship is a constant reminder to me that I can make a difference to society by caring for those around me and being an active member of the community."
-- Jacqueline Feurer, 2006 recipient of Erbacher Scholarship, SUNY Plattsburgh sophomore

Anna Hudson Erbacher was a devoted educator who made a difference in the lives of all the children who shared her classroom. Today, 40 years since her death, she continues to make a difference in the lives of young people who share her passion for teaching.

People like Bryce Caraher, a 2006 graduate of Duanesburg High School. "First, it was a very big honor for me to get the scholarship," said Bryce, a sophomore at SUNY Oneonta. "Lifting my financial burden helped tremendously – it took my mind off paying for school and let me focus more on my studies." Bryce, who has been a camp counselor, basketball coach and substitute teacher at his former elementary school, is working toward his degree in elementary education and has a particular interest in teaching science.

Megan Hopkins, a 2005 Erbacher Scholarship recipient and a graduate of Mohonasen High School, has known since sixth grade that she wanted to be a teacher. "Meagan is a very hard worker. She is persistent and very driven," said her father Doug Hopkins. "She had a teaching internship in an elementary classroom when she was in 11th grade. They were so impressed with her that she was offered the chance to teach in her senior year as an elective."

Although her parents insisted she also apply to a state school, Megan had made up her mind that she would study education at the College of Saint Rose. "I was determined that if I got into Saint Rose, I was going to figure out a way to go," said Megan. "The Erbacher Scholarship made it possible, and now, because of the Scholarship, I am looking into enhancing my education by staying an extra semester so I can be certified in K-8 instead of K-6. The more time I spend in the classroom with kids, the more confident I am that this is where I belong."

Anna Erbacher would be pleased with her legacy. A graduate of New York University, Mrs. Erbacher taught for many years at the Riverside School in Schenectady's Stockade neighborhood. After her death in 1967, her husband John L. Erbacher established a trust fund to honor his wife's dedication to education and to her students. The trust fund provides income to the Anna Hudson Erbacher Scholarship – a $10,000 college scholarship ($2,500 a year for four years) for graduating seniors of Schenectady County high schools who intend to pursue teaching careers. The Schenectady Foundation generally awards two new scholarships each year. Recipients are chosen based on academic achievement, financial need, character and extracurricular activities.

"The Erbacher Scholarship was a godsend," said Angela Caraher, Bryce's mother, who noted that Bryce made Dean's list last semester. "Our finances could only go so far. Without the scholarship, Bryce would have had to take out that much more in loans. This scholarship is a great opportunity for anyone interested in this field. Receiving the scholarship absolutely made a difference for us."

"We can't thank The Schenectady Foundation enough," added Doug Hopkins. "It helped us help Megan fulfill her dreams. Receiving that letter was an incredibly pleasant surprise."