Shaughn Bolton’s late mother, Marjorie “Marty” Stokes, instilled in her an appreciation for the environment and a commitment to giving back to her community. To honor her mother’s memory, Bolton established a scholarship to support environmental science and policy students—tomorrow’s environmental leaders.
Marty Stokes, 1940s.
Marjorie “Marty” Stokes was a woman ahead of her time. Born in New Britain, CT, in 1921, she came of age during the Great Depression, when money, jobs, and food were scarce. It was during this time that she learned the value of conservation. After high school, while most of her peers were settling down and raising children, Stokes furthered her education at the Hartford College for Women and worked as a fashion designer at the Barbizon New York.
During World War II, Stokes traded fashion design for aeronautical design after earning an engineering degree at the Pennsylvania State University. Following a stint designing propellers at Hamilton Standard Propeller Corporation in East Hartford, CT, she felt the time was right to marry her beau William R. Bolton, a Navy lieutenant and graduate of Syracuse University whom she met while at Penn State, and raise a family.
But settling down didn’t mean slowing down. The family, which grew to include four children, moved around frequently with every promotion William Bolton earned. With each move, Stokes enjoyed her surroundings to the fullest and instilled in her children an appreciation for nature and the Earth. “There was never a time when she wasn’t gardening, identifying plants, and taking us on hikes,” says Shaughn Bolton, the eldest of the Bolton children. And long before eating organically was in vogue, Stokes made sure her family ate homegrown vegetables and fruits as often as possible. “She never used pesticides or anything that was harmful to people or the environment,” Bolton says. “She was very conscious of what we were putting into our bodies.”
Marty Stokes (on right) volunteered 8,000 hours at Speare Memorial Hospital. John Hession photo.
In addition to her love for the environment, Stokes loved serving in her community, which included Plymouth in her later years. “Wherever she lived, she was always community-focused,” says Bolton. “She volunteered at four different hospitals over the years and was honored by Speare Memorial Hospital for 8,000 hours of service.”
Inspired by her mother’s example, Bolton wanted to find a way to give back to a community she cared for, PSU. Bolton worked at Plymouth State for nearly two decades in a variety of capacities. The role that’s closest to her heart is administrative assistant for the Department of Biological Sciences and the Department of Environmental Science and Policy, where she worked from 2008 until she retired in 2014. There, she says, “the staff and the faculty work as a team to create a comfortable, supportive atmosphere in which to grow professionally and to work. And the students are just phenomenal!”
One of Bolton’s responsibilities was to supervise student workers, sometimes as many as seven at a time. “They were my kids,” Bolton says. “They were with me for four years, then they graduated, and there was always a new group coming in. I still keep in touch with many of them.”
In 2010, Bolton decided that establishing a scholarship for undergraduate environmental science and policy students would be a great way to support PSU. “I needed to give back to the department that had given so much to me, and I knew that there were students who could use some scholarship support,” she says. “So I started the fund and I add to it whenever I can.”
Shaughn Bolton (second from left) with her family at the Environmental Science and Policy awards night in May: nephew and Godson Will Bolton ’17, niece Lauren Bolton, sister Lynore Bolton, brother William Bolton, and sister-in-law Denise Bolton. Not pictured: brother Peter Bolton and sister-in-law Susan Bolton.
To date, five students have received the scholarship. Environmental Science and Policy Department Chair Mary Ann McGarry says Bolton’s gift is inspiring. “Shaughn’s commitment and generosity toward our students has become a model for everyone in our department,” she says. “This scholarship reflects our true purpose at PSU—to educate and support students.”
“Receiving the scholarship was such an honor for me,” says Allison Savage ’13, now an environmental educator. “I always worked hard in school, and this scholarship not only recognized that but also rewarded me for it. There’s a huge amount of financial stress associated with college—receiving the scholarship was a reminder of the community of people I had supporting me and encouraging me to work toward my goals.”
For Sarah Ray ’15, the scholarship provided her with more than financial support—it gave her a boost in her self-esteem when she needed it most. “Last year, I was feeling discouraged about the impact I was having in the world, and I was concerned about my future,” she says. “Receiving the scholarship helped me feel more confident in myself and my abilities.”
Not a day goes by when Bolton doesn’t think about her mother, and she believes that she’d be pleased with having this scholarship named for her. “Mom would be thrilled that she was part of a student’s success,” she says. “I believe in PSU and its students, and she did, too.”
—Barbra Alan
You Can Make a Difference
“You don’t have to be wealthy to make a difference; you just have to care enough to do something,” Shaughn Bolton says.
When she established the Marjorie “Marty” Stokes Environmental Science and Policy Scholarship, Bolton made the important first step toward supporting the students she had come to know and care about. To date, the scholarship has eased the financial burden of a college education for five students who represent tomorrow’s environmental leaders. Bolton looks forward to the day when the fund is fully endowed and can support more students with larger scholarships. “That’s my dream,” she says.
To learn how you can support the Marjorie “Marty” Stokes Environmental Science and Policy Scholarship, or to establish a scholarship of your own, contact Laure Morris in University Advancement at lmorris5@plymouth.edu or (603) 535-2952.
Tags: Department of Environmental Science and Policy Marjorie “Marty” Stokes Environmental Science and Policy Scholarship Marjorie Stokes Marty Stokes Mary Ann McGarry Shaughn Bolton
