Oldham Scholarship

About the Scholarship Honorees

Richard Talanian Scholarship

Richard Talanian began his teaching career in Norwood in 1956. His career spanned over 42 years, with years spent teaching at the Callahan, Shattuck, Cleveland, Winslow, and Guild Elementary Schools. When the Guild School closed its doors in 1979, Mr. Talanian came to the Oldham Elementary School where he was Prinicipal for 19 years, retiring in 1998. Mr. Talanian earned the respect of his colleagues and students by being firm, yet fair. He was supportive of his teachers, and appreciated the demands his staff balanced between home and school life. He was accessible to students and staff, always seen in the classrooms and hallways. He took pride in his students’ learning, and worked collaboratively with his teachers to ensure decisions made were in the best interest of the children.

Jack Burns Memorial Scholarship

Jack Burns was a beloved teacher and after-school coach at the Balch School for 32 years. He became Principal at the Oldham beginning 1998, after Mr. Talanian retired. A sports enthusiast, Mr. Burns shared this passion with the children he coached, from the elementary school to the high school levels. Mr. Burns was known for his innovative ideas using technology in his classroom as well as his ability to keep on going despite personal battles he was fighting at home. When his youngest son Michael was diagnosed with cancer, his colleagues were humbled by his courage and determination. He juggled the demands of teaching a class of fifth graders, with the emotional duress he was dealing with, as his son fought his battle with this ultimately, terminal illness. Mr. Burns’ sense of humor and passion for learning will always be remembered by the students and teachers whose lives he touched in the 40 years he spent at the Balch and Oldham Schools.

Faith Kelley Scholarship

Faith Kelley, mother of eight, was a dedicated Oldham parent, volunteer, and former PTO president. With all of those kids at home it really was her social time! She enjoyed organizing teacher appreciation events, roller skating parties at Rolland, talent shows, and creating fun experiences for all at the Oldham. By far her favorite was the Oldham Fair — from creating flyers and recruiting volunteers and companies to help out to setting up for the fair, and delegating responsibilities. Faith had a knack for persuading all of her friends to pitch in, as well as a gift for organizing. She was a tremendous collaborator and good at communicating her point of view with humor. It seemed that she would always be doing something Oldham related, and would often lighten the mood by asking: Are we having fun yet? And when Faith was involved, it was always fun.

Scholarship Application