From “Meaponia” to Environmental Science: LCG Awards Its First College Scholarship
Littleton Country Gardeners proudly presents its inaugural $2,000 College Scholarship to Colby LaPointe, a Groton-Dunstable Regional High School senior whose lifelong bond with the natural world made him an unmistakable choice.
Colby LaPointe receives the LCG Certificate of Scholarship from committee chair Leslie Shaw at the May 26 presentation ceremony. Photo: Jim Shaw
There was a nation called Meaponia. It had rivers, hills, valleys, a capital city — and a roving band of neighborhood kids who named every creek, plant, and bird they encountered in the woods of Littleton, Massachusetts. One of those kids was Colby LaPointe. He didn’t know it then, but he was already becoming an environmental scientist.
This spring, the Littleton Country Gardeners launched their first-ever College Scholarship: a $2,000 award for a student pursuing study in horticulture or environmental science. When the scholarship committee — comprised of Leslie Shaw, Dave Plauger, and Eileen Shurtleff — reviewed the single application received by the April 1st deadline, their decision was unanimous. Colby LaPointe was, in Leslie Shaw’s words, “exactly the type of student we wanted for our scholarship award.”
“I want to study environmental science so that future kids can have a Meaponia of their own — not a story of what used to be.”
— Colby LaPointe, scholarship essay
Colby’s application was extraordinary from the first paragraph. In his personal essay, he described watching the ecosystem of his childhood gradually change: trees weakened by invasive vines, the chorus of frogs and crickets fading to near-silence, firefly light shows over the meadows disappearing entirely. These weren’t abstract environmental statistics — they were the loss of a place he loved deeply, and the fuel for a calling.
“The changes I have witnessed in my community are not just conceptual environmental issues, they are personal,” Colby wrote. “Every blighted tree dripping with invasive vines, each silent summer night without lightning bugs or the chirping of frogs is a loss of my past, and degrades the future.”
His academic record matches his passion. Colby carries a 3.7 GPA and earned a 1370 on the SAT, achieving a remarkable score of 5 on the AP Environmental Science exam. His teacher, Abigail Prisby, praised him as a student who “consistently rises to the occasion,” one who regularly visited office hours not just for clarification, but to explore molecular science topics out of pure curiosity.
The LCG College Scholarship is awarded annually to a graduating senior pursuing study in horticulture, environmental science, or a related field. For more information or to contribute to future awards, please contact the Scholarship Committee.
Beyond the classroom, Colby has built a remarkable record of environmental leadership. As Vice President of his school’s Wildlife Club, he takes care of classroom animals, organizes fundraisers for environmental causes, and teaches wreath-making and terrarium-building classes at a local community center. He led an initiative to paint a turtle crossing at Groton-Dunstable Regional High School. As Co-President of the Debate Club, he coordinates multi-school competitions and mentors younger students. He is also a member of the National Honor Society.
“As the vice president of the wildlife club, Colby channels his enthusiasm for environmental education,” wrote teacher Ethan Kogon-Schneider. “Colby demonstrates initiative, leadership, and a genuine commitment to environmental conservation and learning.”
COLBY LAPOINTE AT A GLANCE
Senior, Groton-Dunstable Regional High School, Class of 2026
3.7 GPA · 1370 SAT · Score of 5 on AP Environmental Science
Co-President, Debate Club · Vice President, Wildlife Club · National Honor Society
Teaches wreath-making and terrarium-building at a local community center
Led turtle-crossing mural initiative at his high school
Operates his own irrigation-servicing business; stained glass studio instructor
Avid gardener and hiker — “the outdoors is where I think best”
The scholarship fund grew through the generosity of the broader Littleton community. The Rotary Club of Littleton donated $500 toward the award, and an anonymous donor contributed a remarkable additional $1,000 — bringing the total scholarship to $2,000. It is a testament to how much this community values young people committed to protecting the natural world.
On the evening of May 26, 2026, the presentation ceremony was held at the home of Leslie and Jim Shaw. In attendance from LCG were President Lynn Warren, President-elect Dave Plauger, and Chris McCumber. Colby was accompanied by his parents, Joshua and Shannon LaPointe. Leslie presented Colby with both a Certificate of Scholarship and the $2,000 check.
Colby with parents Shannon and Joshua LaPointe. Photo by Jim Shaw.
Colby plans to pursue a degree in environmental science, with an eye toward graduate study and, ultimately, a career teaching and researching in the field. His vision is sweeping but grounded: “I want to contribute research and restoration work that helps reverse the decline I’ve witnessed firsthand… not just in my little corner of suburban Massachusetts, but across the globe.”
The Littleton Country Gardeners are proud to play even a small part in that journey. We look forward to watching Colby grow — and to hearing, one day, that somewhere out there, a new generation of kids is mapping their own Meaponia.
The LCG College Scholarship is awarded annually to a graduating senior pursuing study in horticulture, environmental science, or a related field.
For more information or to contribute to future awards, please contact the Scholarship Committee.
