As everyone knows, paying for college is a trying task, so Westerville civic organizations are doing what they can to ease the burden.
Five of the city’s main civic organizations – the Westerville Lions Club, Westerville Sertoma, Westerville Kiwanis Club, Rotary Club of Westerville and Rotary Club of Westerville Sunrise – offer scholarships to local students looking to make a dent in intimidating tuition costs.
Academic strength, extracurricular activities and commitment to community service are among the values the clubs seek to reward.
“Since Westerville is such a large school district, (we) wanted to help and do what we could,” says Ray Bertelson, a Kiwanis board member.
“Westerville deserves this,” says John Olivieri, a member of Sertoma’s board of directors. “There is a sense that this is a community that tends to help itself.”
Each club has a specific process for applicants to go through, but most ask the students to provide information on their service activities, academic success and extracurricular activities, as well as letters of recommendation and a short personal statement.
Scholarships Awarded
Kiwanis Club:
• Robert Hughes Scholarship: one-time, $1,200 award to a Westerville South High School senior
• Robert Hawk Scholarship: one-time, $1,200 award to a Westerville North High School graduate
• Westerville Central Kiwanis Scholarship: one-time, $1,200 award to a Westerville Central High School student
Rotary Clubs (both Noon and Sunrise):
• Otterbein Scholarship: $2,000, renewable for up to four years, to an Otterbein University student
• Westerville Rotary Club Scholarships: Three $750 scholarships, renewable for up to four years, for students to attend Ohio colleges or universities
Lions Club:
• Lions Memorial Scholarships: One-time, $1,000 awards to six students, two from each Westerville high school
Sertoma:
• Westerville Sertoma Scholarship: One-time, $1,000 scholarships to three students, one from each Westerville high school
Allison Dalrymple is a contributing writer. Feedback welcome at gbishop@cityscenemediagroup.com.
