Rotary Club of Scottsdale's Foundation Awards $55,500 in 2019 Individual Scholarships

The Rotary Club of Scottsdale, held its annual Rotary Youth Day luncheon to honor and celebrate Club 2019 individual educational scholarship award winners, parents and student advisors.  At the meeting, the Club welcomed new member, Chris Cuffaro, Senior Business Advisor at Alerus Financial. Attendees enjoyed a luncheon held at Scottsdale McCormick Ranch's Golf Club Pavilion.
 
 
At the gathering, Rotarian Gary Chontos announced that through the Rotary Club of Scottsdale's Foundation, the following 2019 individual scholarships were awarded:
 
  • The Bob & Louise McCall Visual Arts $10,000 Scholarship: Tara Maeshiro from Saguaro High School
  • The Colonel Park Shaw - First Responder $5,000 Scholarship: Daniel Carpenter from Saguaro High School 
  • The Norval O. Tyler Scholarship $1,000 Scholarships (facilitated by Helen and Robb Tyler): Jessica Vera from Arcadia High School  
  • The following targeted scholarships of $5,000 for first place winners and $2,500 for second place winners and $2,000 for third place winners were:
    • Peter J. Fish Science and Technology: First Place - Sabrina Hirshorn, Saguaro High School; Second Place - Grace Taylor from Chaparral High School; Third Place - Jesenia Calletano Peralta, Coronado High School
    • Peter J. Fish Business:  First Place - Terra Meyer from Arcadia High School and Second Place - Taylor Paielli from Desert Mountain High School
    • Peter J. Fish Vocational/Technical Trade: First Place - Callyn Zaragoza from Desert Mountain High School and Second Place - Blake Rusboldt from Saguaro High School
    • Bob Murray Performing Arts:  First Place - Davis Whyte from Saguaro High School and Second Place - Elizabeth Carpenter Elizabeth Arnold from Saguaro High School
    • Athletics:  First Place - Maya Medrano from Coronado High School; Second Place - Dallas Taylor from Saguaro High School
 
The Rotary Club of Scottsdale Rotarians provide financial support to their youth and community projects through the Club's Scottsdale Rotary Foundation.  This is a separate not-for-profit corporation whose officers and board of directors are elected by the members of the Rotary Club of Scottsdale.  All contributions to the Scottsdale Rotary Foundation are tax deductible.  The Annual Club's Golf Outing, 2019/2020 Rotary Club Calendar sales and individual member donations are the Foundation's primary funding sources. 
 
At the Youth Day luncheon, Cassidy Johnson, Desert Mountain High School Rotary Interact Club secretary, provided an overview of the Club's Crutches4Africa (founded by polio survivor, David Talbot) and Ambassadors to Kenya international projects, which are signature Rotary International District 5495's Interact Club projects. Each year Clubs during a several month period used and surplus mobility devices are collected, shipped to developing countries and distributed to those in need. Additionally, a team of 6 Arizona Interact high school students, serving as ambassadors, will distribute the mobility devices and other service project to Kenya - leaving June 29th and returning July 14th.   
 
The Club also, supports a student mentoring program in which high school students are matched with club members.  The student and a Rotarian meet one on one to discuss career choices.
 
For more information about the Club - see www.scottsdalerotary.org. 
 
By Dr Honora Norton