Rotary Club awards scholarships to Delta County graduates | News, Sports, Jobs

Photo courtesy. Pictured are, from left, Alex DeHaan, current president of the Rotary Club of Escanaba; Kayla Hamelin, Gladstone High School; Leia Economopolous, Escanaba High School; Evelyn Norman, Escanaba High School; Bradly Van Damme, Mid-Peninsula High School; Sue Roll, past president of the Rotary Club of Escanaba

ESCANABA — The Rotary Club of Escanaba awarded four scholarships to Delta County high school graduates in the class of 2024 at its annual dinner June 25 at the Highland Golf Club. In addition, the Rotary Trust Board, an organization that serves children with special needs, awarded three scholarships to Delta County high school graduates in the class of 2024.

“p1″>The scholarships awarded by the club are worth $1,000 for the student’s first year of education after high school. Scholars were selected based on their essays on the Rotary Club’s motto:Selfless service.” Recipients of the annual $1,000 high school scholarship were Zowie Bozzo (Bark River-Harris High School), Leia Economopolous (Escanaba High School), Evelyn Norman (Escanaba High School) and Zoe Wilson (Escanaba High School).

Adela Kang (Escanaba High School) received a $6,000 scholarship. Kang, who is already enrolled at the University of Michigan, is the recipient of the 6th Annual Leon Kinasiewicz, MD, Scholarship. Kinasiewicz is a retired board-certified radiologist, past president of Rotary, and member emeritus of the club’s Board of Trust. This scholarship is awarded to an outstanding senior who plans to enter the medical field and has overcome some type of adversity.

The Rotary Trust Board of Directors awarded two new scholarships this year. The first is for a senior from a Delta County high school who has a current Individual Education Plan and is pursuing further education. This year’s scholarship recipient is Kayla Hamelin (Gladstone High School), who is pursuing a degree in accounting and will attend Bay de Noc Community College.

The second new scholarship was awarded to Bradly VanDamme (Mid-Peninsula High School). This scholarship is for a graduating senior from any Delta County high school who is pursuing an associate’s, bachelor’s or master’s degree and wants to focus his career on working with students with special needs. VanDamme plans to continue his education at Bay de Noc Community College and eventually transfer to Northern Michigan University where he plans to major in special education.