The Rotary Club of Potsdam will hold its annual “Beck Tessier Memorial Scholarship Gala” on Saturday, March 28, at the Elks Lodge in Potsdam. This year’s gala theme is “Out of this World.”
The scholarship gala, which benefits BOCES Seaway Career & Technical Education Center programs, is named in memory of late Rotarian Rebecca J. “Beck” Tessier of Massena, who died in 2024 after a valiant, two-year battle with ALS. The event raises money for the end-of-the-year awards for one student in each program.
A 5 p.m. cash bar will be followed by a buffet dinner, featuring a choice of lasagna or chicken parmesan with appetizers and tossed salad. A prize drawing, trivia contest and dancing will follow. The cost is $45 per-person advance purchase with a limited number of tickets. If available, tickets will be $50 at the door.
The evening also includes a 50/50 raffle, silent auction, and other games.
Tickets can be purchased online at potsdamrotary.org (click on "Donate") or from any Potsdam Rotarian. Tickets may also be purchased by mailing a check for $45 per person to "Potsdam Rotary, PO Box 912, Potsdam, NY 13676."
If purchasing by mail, please include the attendees' names and entrée choices or email them to gala@potsdamrotary.org. You may also email any questions to gala@potsdamrotary.org.
Potsdam Rotary thanks the local businesses that generously donated scholarships to outstanding graduating Seaway Tech students in 2025: Atlantic Testing Laboratories; Northern Insuring Agency Inc.; Brookfield Renewable U.S; Community Bank; Core Access Therapies, Dr. William Pena; Frenchie’s Chevrolet; Glow Skincare and Spa; the Lobster House; North Country Savings Bank; Northern Mechanicals; Putney Tree Service; SUNY Potsdam Law Enforcement Training Institute; TJ Toyota; Waddington Hardware and Building Supply; and the Potsdam Elks Lodge.
Beck Tessier was a member of Potsdam Rotary from 2018 until her death and had a special fondness for the scholarship gala. She was instrumental in the planning and execution of the first gala, and was honored as a Paul Harris Fellow by Rotary in 2020 for her demonstrated commitment to the goals and purposes of Rotary.