NASHUA – The Nashua Police Athletic League recently announced that James Allard and his family have created a new education scholarship for current and previous Nashua PAL participants.

“In my youth, there were plenty of opportunities to go down the wrong path. I know firsthand how important it is to provide youth with more opportunities to make the right decision,” said Allard. “I have a deep respect for Nashua PAL and their dedication to mentoring youth from diverse backgrounds, each with their own significant challenges. PAL helps them find a path that, with hard work and a positive attitude, can lead them toward a successful future. My family is proud to support these efforts.”

Shaun Nelson, executive director of Nashua PAL, said offering a scholarship has been one of the organization’s objectives for quite some time.

“With the kickoff commitment from the Allard family and the continued support from our community, we can finally bring this to life,” he said. “We are confident this will lead to a generational change for lots of kids and their families.”

Police Chief Kevin Rourke serves on the Nashua PAL Board of Directors and is also a member of the organization’s Scholarship Committee.

“This new scholarship is a fantastic new avenue for Nashua PAL to support not only current PAL kids, but those that continued to work on their education and gainful employment in order to support their families,” he said. “This scholarship will have a big impact for generations to come.”

Scholarship applications are currently available for individuals pursuing certifications, apprenticeships as well as two- and four-year college degrees. The first deadline in the application process is Aug. 15.

Launched 34 years ago, Nashua PAL now serves more than 2,000 youth throughout Greater Nashua with 16 programs focused on leadership, education and recreation.

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