Rotary Club of Monroeville awards five scholarships

The Rotary Club of Monroeville held its annual scholarship luncheon on June 8, presenting awards to Marina Grado, Sofia Hernandez, Julian Livingston, Kaitlyn Novak and Amiya White.

The students were considered not solely based on their academics. The club’s scholarship committee considered if the students demonstrated a trade or talent and were planning to attend a post-secondary institution.

During the school year, Gateway High School seniors were encouraged to apply for various scholarships by submitting a counselor-generated application that included grade point average, activities and clubs, leadership roles, community service involvement, and an essay detailing why they should be awarded a scholarship. Necessity and community service are large considerations.

The scholarship committee must then narrow the 90-plus students down to the 16 candidates who participate in an in-person interview session during school hours. The committee interviews each candidate and determines the five recipients based on their applications —determined heavily by a compelling essay — and their interviews.

Grado was awarded the Bill Segar Academic Scholarship for $1,100. The student receiving this scholarship usually holds the highest ranking of all the recipients. Segar’s family started this particular foundation upon Bill’s death five years ago.

Although Grado could not attend the Rotary ceremony in person, she sent in a letter detailing her academic and extracurricular journey through her high school career and thanking the club for the scholarship.

“Through the various activities I have participated in during my four years of high school, I have learned the importance of hard work. My hard work in the classroom is a reflection of the young woman I have grown into today,” she wrote.

All other scholarships are for $1,000, and Rotarian Susan DeLaney introduced Hernandez as the next recipient.

“I cannot say enough about her and her family,” DeLaney said. “I’m so happy and so proud she is receiving this scholarship.”

Hernandez gave a speech in which she thanked her parents and godparents for encouraging her to be active in the community and preparing her for the future.

“I also want to thank the Rotarians for awarding me this scholarship. These people have given me the opportunity to grow and become a part of this community,” Hernandez said.

She is pursuing a nursing degree.

Rotarian Valerie Warning introduced scholarship recipient Livingston, saying, “I have never met a young adult as humble and as passionate as this young man. It’s amazing what he’s able to do through his art.”

Livingston began by thanking his family and friends for supporting him.

“Thank you for choosing me to be one of this year’s scholarship recipients — it is a huge honor,” he told the Rotarians. “I recognize the importance of continuing my education, and I will put this scholarship to good use.”

He will attend the University of Pittsburgh.

Dr. Mohammed Idrees, another club member, introduced Novak.

“You had a storm of negative voices surrounding you, but you didn’t let them deter you from fulfilling your dreams and keep striving for your higher education goals. I found your resilience in these circumstances, your tenacity, your sense of responsibility, and your positive outlook to be really inspiring,” Idrees said.

Novak expressed her gratitude to the Rotarians.

“From money struggles, family struggles, to deaths of loved ones, I’ve had to overcome a lot. My grandparents and music played a huge role in my life. I’m very proud to further my education and go to school for developmental psychology at Slippery Rock University, and help other children obtain the help I obtained from a loving home and access to therapy,” Novak said.

Diane Milowicki presented White with the final scholarship of the afternoon. She sent a letter in lieu of being able to attend in person.

“I want to first thank the Monroeville Rotary Club scholarship committee for blessing me with this scholarship,” she wrote. “This scholarship is beneficial to me because it’s helping me continue my education and pursue my dreams of becoming a nurse anesthetist.

“I want to thank my aunt for helping to guide me through this journey. My aunt might have been my inspiration for becoming a nurse anesthetist, but the person that keeps me pushing every day is the strongest woman I know, my mom. Thank you for turning my worries and fears into happiness. I wish I could give you the world, because you deserve it. Thank you for always being my biggest supporter.”

White will attend Norfolk State University in Virginia.