On July 17th at the regular meeting (by Zoom) of the Rotary Club of Novato, twenty-one students from Novato High Schools were awarded scholarships for a total of $70,000, a record for the Rotary Club of Novato.
Stephen Delahunty, Chair of the Scholarship Committee announced the names of those awarded recognition and financial help toward their education at a Community College, State College or University.
The Rotary Club of Novato has awarded scholarships to High School Seniors graduating from the four high schools in Novato for the past forty years and reached a record this year with twenty-four scholarships totaling $70,000.
The seniors were from: San Marin High School: Kelsey McIvor Tingle, Sandra Maldonado, Sarah Newman, Matthew Sargent, Elizabeth Meehan, Nancy Shin. Charlotte Marsh, Athena Yap, and Noah Taylor.
Novato High School: Leah Coale, Ava Francis Hall, Jessica Santana, Emely Reyes Rodas, Camille Krejdovsky, Gianna Marino, Audrey Uyesugi
Marin Oaks/ Nova High School: Melissa Elizarraras, Zoe Steiner, Allura Baker, Malachi Rodriguez and Elsa Dunn.
The students receiving awards will be attending colleges at Cal Poly at San Luis Obispo, California State University San Diego, University of California at Davis, University of California at Santa Barbara, Santa Rosa Junior College, University of California at Los Angeles, University of Southern California, Duke University, Chapman College, University of California at Berkeley, California State University Sacramento, St. Mary’s College, California State University Merced.
Ron Harness, Immediate Past President of The Rotary Club of Novato, while commenting about the recognition given said, “We received and reviewed forty-seven applications, interviewed thirty-six students and were able to fund twenty-four scholarships”. He continued, “We wished there were even more funds to assist this talented group of students. We found that the quality of the high school students leads me to believe that the students, the teachers, and the community is doing a great job in getting our youth ready for the future. The Rotary Club of Novato wants to honor this special group of students, teachers and counselors; and we hope that we can even do more in the future.”
Chris DeGabriele, the 2020/21 President of The Rotary Club of Novato said we are building an endowment fund that we hope will be added on a consistent basis so that future graduates will be awarded scholarships . Students will be awarded scholarships based on academic qualifications; but also the ability to overcome adversity and have specific educational goals.
Anyone can have the opportunity to add to this endowment fund to help Novato students in future years. Information can be gathered by calling 415-250-9900. Each year high school seniors apply through the High School Counselors at the High Schools: Novato High: Krista Peach, San Marin High Barbara Hernandez, and Marin Oaks/ Nova: Francine Cunnie. Applications for next year’s scholarships will be available on The Rotary Club of Novato website {novatorotary.org) in early 2021.
Leave a Reply