Laurance & Mary Rockefeller Legacy Scholarship Essay Submission Form

Laurance and Mary Rockefeller made a profound impact on the Woodstock community. Their visionary contributions, including the establishment of the Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historical Park, Billings Farm & Museum, the renovation of the Woodstock Inn & Resort, and their support for cultural institutions like the Norman Williams Public Library, Pentangle Arts, and The Woodstock History Center, continue to inspire and enrich the lives of locals and visitors alike.

Laurance Rockefeller was a visionary who had the uncanny ability to look 50 to 100 years into the future, considering not just how he could impact the present, but to pioneer lasting changes that would span generations. This included championing environmental stewardship and investing purposefully in the cultural and economic vitality of places such as Woodstock for the community’s long-term benefit.

Several of these projects continue to benefit our community today:

• To preserve the historic working dairy established in 1871 by Frederick Billings, the Rockefellers established Billings Farm & Museum in 1983 as a non-profit educational organization open to the public.
• In 1992 Laurance and Mary donated their estate – including their historic residence, 550 acres of managed woodlands,and miles of carriage trails – to the National Park Service for the recreational use and benefit of Woodstock residents and visitors.
• To ensure Woodstock would retain its charm and historic character, the Rockefellers buried power lines under the main streets.
• To attract visitors and sustain a vibrant local community, the Rockefellers invested in the Woodstock Inn & Resort as well as special area features including Saskadena Six, the Woodstock Athletic Club, the Country Club and Nordic Center, which are now part of the Resort, but available to all in the community.

Today Billings Farm & Museum, the Woodstock Inn & Resort, and Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historical Park form a unique public-private partnership thanks to Laurance and Mary's pioneering vision. We have come together to jointly invite students in the Woodstock Union High School to examine the legacy of Laurance and Mary Rockefeller and be inspired to think about how actions we take today can shape this community years into the future. 

Explore Laurance and Mary Rockefeller’s contributions to the Woodstock community using the resources provided. Using this legacy as an inspiration, present your idea to make a positive and sustainable environmental, cultural, or economic impact in Vermont 25, 50, or 100 years into the future. In what ways can your idea benefit future generations?

Write an essay that includes the following elements:

• Explain how Laurance and Mary Rockefeller’s philosophy towards making a positive long-term impact for the community resonates with you.
• In the spirit of Laurance and Mary, describe your vision for a project or initiative that if undertaken today would have a positive impact on the environmental, cultural and/or economic sustainability of Woodstock or the surrounding areas 25, 50 to 100 years in the future. Describe the outcomes this initiative would seek to have and what it would mean to future generations.
• Think big, think creatively, think outside the box! Don’t place any limits on your ideas, but do keep the essay within the 1,000 word limit.

Optional: Prepare a multimedia component (e.g., photos, video, artwork, or interactive elements) that complements your essay and demonstrates your understanding of how Laurance and Mary Rockefellers’ approach inspired your idea.

• You must write your own essay.
• Essays should be typed in English with no color or graphics.
• The essay may be no longer than 1,000 words. Every word is counted regardless of length, including titles or footnotes.
• The essay must be the applicant’s original work and a product of the applicant’s own thinking. Inappropriate use of ChatGPT or other AI tools is not allowed.
• An applicant’s teacher, counselor or parent may check the essay for punctuation, grammar and/or spelling, but the content must remain the applicants. Applicants will be judged on the basis of their essay alone and are not required to present the essay orally.
• All essays become the property of the Woodstock Foundation. The Woodstock Foundation retains non-exclusive rights to the use of your essay and likeness in the promotion and execution of the organization’s programs and activities.
• At any time during the contest additional participant personal information (i.e. SSN, photo, etc.) could be requested by the Woodstock Foundation.
• The winner of the top prize cannot be selected as a prize winner in future years.

This scholarship essay competition is open to students in grades 10–12 at Woodstock Union High School in Woodstock, Vermont.

The Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historical Park, Billings Farm & Museum, Woodstock Inn & Resort are pleased to offer scholarship funds for up to three top submissions:

• 1st Place:  $2,500
• 2nd Place: $1,000
• 3rd Place:    $500

Funds will be restricted to educational purposes. Payments will be made directly to educational providers (schools, educational programs, etc.)

The Awards Ceremony will be held on Friday, April 17, 2026. Award recipients and their families will be invited to attend.