Christine Leja, the daughter of Mr and Mrs Jeffrey Leja of Newtown, participated in the Ford Scholars Program at Vassar College this past summer.

Miss Leja, a graduate of Newtown High School and a senior at Vassar majoring in English, spent the summer researching personal letters with Ann Imbie, professor of English at Vassar College. Her research entailed comparing the personal letters to its close cousin, the diary. Currently, Miss Leja is working on a critical edition of a collection of letters and diaries written by Ellen Wright Garrison, daughter-in-law of abolitionist William Lloyd Garrison and niece of Lucretia Mott.

The Ford Scholar Program at Vassar College provides special opportunities for students in the humanities and social sciences to engage in collaborative scholarship with members of the Vassar College faculty. The students explore their interests in pursuing the PhD and becoming college professors.