Rotary Club of Portage 2013 Scholarship Awards

rotary logoAs this 2013 academic year draws to a close at Portage High School, the Portage Rotary Club wishes all the graduating students the very best in whatever it is they have decided to do after graduation. I can say again that we were happy and honored to be able to have students have lunch with us during the school year and wish to thank Mr. John Zack, and his staff, for bringing them. Besides hosting the various groups of students to a monthly meeting, the club also sponsored students to hopefully what was a thought provoking and eye opening seminar, and then we were able to participant in the year ending awards program held on Wednesday, May 20th.

Once again the Rotary World Affairs Seminar was held this past March at Valparaiso University. This was an educational program for high-school students that provided a forum for future leaders to learn, study, and discuss complex global issues and problems. This year the attending students were: Collin Czilli, Brandon Vickrey, Eric Mesarch, James Podgorski, Kevin Elkins, Logan Cole, Katie Peksenak, Kaley Liang, Heather Zengler, Yesenia Mendoza, Mariela Murillo, Claire Tokash, Cody Spoolstra, Sydney Yingst, Robert Manning, Austin Hamang, Matt Bliss, Mason Hooper, Taylor Leslie, Tep Junyanid, Josh Lewis, Giovanni Balderas, John Fannin, John Whitney, Meaira Bennett, Richard Tuomi, Jessica Loza, Oliver Bishop, Jordan Cunningham, Stephen Berridge, Nick Jordan. The Portage Club was pleased to be able to sponsor this fine group of students.

We are proud to announce that this year the Portage Rotary high school scholarships will be given honoring one current active Rotarian: Margaret Zelenka, and in memory of another one: James Bailey. They both exemplify the Rotary motto of: “Service Above Self”. Even after many years of dedicated membership in the club no one had to ask twice when it came to helping with a good cause as these two were always first to volunteer, and more than likely they were the ones that brought the issue before the club.

For the Margaret Zelenka Scholarship Award:

*We are pleased to present a scholarship award to the 2013 Distinguished Young Lady: Rachel Stewart.

For the James Bailey Scholarship Awards:

*We are pleased to present a scholarship award to the Outstanding Young Man: Eric Mesarch.

*Next academic scholarships were awarded to both: Zachary Smith and Michael Mischke.

*And finally, a scholarship was awarded to the winner of the Rotary 4 Way Test essay: Robert Manning.

Congratulations to all the scholarship recipients.