Rotary Club of Brentwood awards four college scholarships

Four local high school students have received scholarships from the Rotary Club of Brentwood. The scholarships underscore the Rotary Club’s strong commitment to Ravenwood, Brentwood and John Overton high schools.

Margaret MacGurn is a graduate of Ravenwood High School and the daughter of
Jason and Elena MacGurn. Her extracurricular activities at Ravenwood included leading the Public Forum Debate and Speech, participating in national competitions, and being a member of the Mock Trial Team, National Honor Society, National Spanish Honor Society, National Math Honor Society, National Social Studies Honor Society, National English Honor Society, and a degree from Youth Leadership Franklin. She will receive $2,500 per year for her four years at Duke University.

“Receiving the Rotary Club of Brentwood scholarship is a tremendous honor,” said Margaret. “The financial support will be invaluable to me as I continue my studies at Duke University, where I plan to study economics and international comparative studies. The Rotary Club’s commitment to local and global community service speaks deeply to me, and
I am grateful for their investment in my future.” Margaret intends to pursue a career in
Diplomacy, which includes postgraduate training in economics, politics,
Language and communication.

Andrew (Drew) Bauchiero, son of Daniel and Jessie Bauchiero, receives $2,500 per year
for his four years at college. Drew, who had recently graduated from Brentwood High School, was a
Member of the two-time state champion team Varsity Golf, DECA Business Club, National
Honor Society, founding member of the Lego Club and a leader of Young Life. Drew is a
Member of the Boy Scouts of America Troop 93, where he achieved the rank of Eagle Scout in 2022.

Drew will attend Auburn University to study finance with minors in real estate and analytics and will pursue a career in the financial technology industry. “While I really appreciate the financial aspect of this scholarship, the most important thing about it is that I know my community has my back, as I have invested a lot in the Brentwood community throughout my life, especially during my high school years,” Drew said.

Gracie Bixler, daughter of Elizabeth and Tim Bixler, will also receive $2,500 per year for her four years of college. Gracie, a recent graduate of John Overton High School, was a founder of the Gardening Club and has participated in science research programs and fairs, the Science Olympiad, and the BETA Club. Gracie will attend the University of Tennessee in Knoxville, where she will focus on
Environmental and Soil Science. “The commitment of the Rotary Club of Brentwood to the
Community corresponds to my own desire to help the community. I plan to be
“I became an environmental scientist after earning my PhD and hope to help make scientific advancements in my own community,” Gracie said. Gracie was a member of the OHS soccer team and is an accomplished musician, competing in piano competitions and being a member of the OHS Marching Band and Concert Band. Gracie won the Distinguished Young Women of Music City for the Class of 2024 and represented Music City at the DYW state competition.

For the second time, the Brentwood Rotary Club awarded the Destin Legieza Memorial
Scholarship in memory of Brentwood Police Officer Destin Legieza, who was killed in the line of duty in 2020. This scholarship is for a student who will attend Middle Tennessee State University to study law enforcement and criminal justice. This year’s recipient is Evin Ballinger, the son of Robert and Dana Ballinger. A graduate of Franklin High School, Evin will begin his sophomore year at MTSU and receive $2,000 per year to complete his criminal justice degree. “I am honored to be the recipient of the Destin Legieza Memorial Scholarship,” said Evin. “Officer Legieza has clearly been a phenomenal contributor to the community both in and out of uniform, and it is with great appreciation that I accept this award on his behalf. This scholarship is both a validation that I have chosen the right career path and a motivation to achieve high levels when it comes to my studies. I think law enforcement is a noble and important profession, and I am grateful for how this scholarship helps encourage people to pursue a career in this field.”

“The Rotary Club of Brentwood is extremely pleased to provide scholarships to these deserving students to help defray the cost of higher education,” said Drew Rogers, president of the Rotary Club of Brentwood. “The motto of the Rotary International organization is ‘Selfless Service,’ and awarding these scholarships is one way to serve our next generation. However, as we evaluated the scholarship applications, it was clear that the recipients of these awards also believe in the value of serving others. Whether or not they become the next generation of Rotarians, we believe they will serve their communities in the same way our club has for the past 50 years. We also consider ourselves extremely fortunate to join the Destin Legieza family in honoring his legacy through the Destin Legieza Memorial Scholarship for a criminal justice major at MTSU. We are very proud of this newer scholarship and are excited to see how it can be used in the future to help those who dedicate their careers to serving and protecting the community.”