Last Wednesday, Rotarian and chairman of the Scholarship Committee, Robin Steele, reviewed the scholarships awarded through our club this past spring. Our Rotary guests today included many of the recipients.
Robin first explained the process for choosing these students. The basic requirements - they need to be a graduate of FCHS, PHS, FRHS, Liberty Common, Poudre Global or Centennial and plan to attend Front Range or CSU. The judges look at academic data but also extracurricular involvement, community service, leadership, work experience/ethic and financial need. The process starts when a few members of the committee screen the applicants from 10 per school to 5 finalists per school. The 5 finalists are then interviewed by the members. They also submit an essay on what the 4-way test means to them. The top candidates are then selected. The 2024 scholarships, ranging from $2,000 and $4,000, were identified.
Next we saw the list of the recipients and their scholarships – Alyssa McCasland (John David Sullivan Scholarship - $4000 CSU from FCHS), Lennon Proctor (James Morrison Memorial Scholarship $4000 from RMHS), Trina McDowell (Chen Memorial Scholarship, $4000 CSU from PHS), Yastin Chavarria (Schump Memorial Scholarship $4000 CSU from FCHS), Cardan Muirhead (Chen Memorial Scholarship $2000 FRCC from CHS), Madeleine Talbert (Rotary Club of Ft Collins Scholarship $2000 from PHS), Lali Snow (Rotary Club of Ft Collins CSU $4000 from PHS) and Anabelle SaldaAna (Jane Welzel Memorial Scholarship $4000 CSU, from PHS). The total amount awarded this year was $28,000. Alyssa, Trina, Cardin, Madeline, Lali and Anabelle were present, and each introduced themselves and their support guest, expressed their gratitude to the club and to various degrees identified their majors and shared their goals. Each candidate was given a set of questions – Major? Favorite class? Meaningful experience in HS? and what they were Looking forward to in college? Their answers were displayed and discussed.
The members of the 2024 Scholarship Committee are Ralph Smith (new co-chair for 2025), Bob Meroney (new co-chair for 2025), interviewers - Shannon Ellis, Loyd Thomas, Chandler Elmore, Lucinda Kerschensteiner, Jordon Spight, Jean Lamm, Larry Kieft and the screeners - Judy Boggs and Janice McAteer.
The committee needs a 3rd co-chair – so please consider.
President David asked Rotarians to use the Q&A period to mingle with the visiting scholarship recipients.
