Mt. Ararat High School senior Lydia Monks received the first Julie Dimperio Holowach Scholarship at the school’s senior awards ceremony on June 7.
The $2,000 award seeks to “honor Julie’s legacy by supporting young women who exemplify her enthusiasm for life, generosity of spirit, dynamic leadership and community engagement,” according to scholarship founders Patti Neuhof and Sandy Thulis, who were friends of the late Dimperio Holowach.
Monks, of Topsham, captained the varsity girls tennis team, belonged to Student Senate and the National Honor Society, and was involved in several community service projects. She plans to major in ecology and environmental sciences at the University of Maine at Orono.
“I really want in any way I can to help the planet and people,” said Monks. “I’m big on advocacy and helping our planet heal before it’s too late.” The Holowach award “was exciting because it was emotional, local and academic,” she added. “They said I reminded them of Julie.”
Joining Neuhof and Thulis at the ceremony were Dimperio Holowach’s husband, Al Holowach, and her son and daughter-in-law, Dean and Addy Holowach.
Dimperio Holowach was a retired fashion executive and a seasonal resident of Bailey Island. A triathlete, she was swimming in Mackerel Cove on July 27, 2020, when she died in a rare shark attack. She was 63.
“The scholarship became a reality due to the generosity of many of Julie’s family and friends — near and far — and we are eternally grateful for their support in bringing this to fruition,” said Neuhof and Thulis. Contributions may be made to the Maine Community Foundation. Mt. Ararat selects the recipient.
