Four SAHS students received $2750 in scholarships during this year’s Sunrise Rotary STRIVE program.
Top winner was Cassie Donnelly, who was given a $1,000 scholarship for greatest overall improvement during her senior year. Second in improvement was Zach Williams, with a $750 scholarship. Brianna Crea received $750 for best GPA during the year. Chad Kohns won $250 for perfect attendance at all 14 STRIVE meetings.
Eleven Sunrise mentors, plus others recruited by Sunrise, counseled 14 seniors during this school year’s program. They met with the students 14 times during the school year, helping them determine and develop skills, make career choices, select colleges and put together job and college resumes.
This was the tenth school year Sunrise Rotary has sponsored the Rotary-originated STRIVE assistance program. Money for the scholarships came from annual Sunrise fund-raising events including the Mary Jo Weingarten “What’s Best For Kids” Memorial Golf Event which will be held this year on September 12th at the Stillwater Country Club.
Seven of the 14 STRIVE seniors attended a Sunrise awards breakfast last week. They heard Sam Shikowsky, a former STRIVE member now in his third year at Mankato State, tell them to “find something you’re good at” and go for it. They also were told by District 834 Superintendent Keith Ryskosky to “expect to have 11 to 14 different jobs by the time you are 40.” Ryskosky urged the students to “continue to learn” and thanked Sunrise members for their hands-on teaching and guidance assistance.
Students attending the breakfast included Brianna Crea, Cassie Donnelly, Brennen Klover, Chad Kohns, Andrew Stewart, Caylin Watson and Torre Wolf. Those in this year’s program but unable to attend included Nick Blomstrand, Brando Firkus, Madeline Hall, Drey Leuer, John Moreno, Nick Treazise and Zach Williams.
The 11 Sunrise mentors were Dave Langer, who chairs the program, Arba Della Beck, Justin Bonestroo, Shari Clifford, Janis Donnelly, Craig Leiser, John Lennes, Del Peterson, Pete Smith, Dean Tibbets and Matt Valek. Non-Sunrise mentors included Val Fisher, Ann Langer, Liz Smith and Sue Swenson.
