The Stuart Rotary Club recently had the honor and privilege of announcing awards of $40,500 in scholarships to 24 students of the 2019 graduating class of Patrick County High School. Sixteen (16) of the twenty-four (24) scholarships are provided through perpetual memorial scholarships funded by family members wishing to honor and remember their loved ones. In 2003, only three (3) memorial scholarship funds existed and such accounts have grown to the current eleven (11) different accounts.
Students and parents were honored at a special dinner August 12th hosted by Stuart Rotary. The Club wanted to express their absolute joy and admiration to the students and start them on their new journey with some fellowship, good support, and well wishes.
The Stuart Rotary Student Loan and Scholarship Foundation, Inc. was created in 1968 with the main purpose to receive donations of money and property in order to offer low interest loans to Patrick County graduates to pursue their education beyond high school. Since the 1968 loan program began, 134 loans totaling $156,125 have been provided to Patrick County students attending college. Students begin repayment of the loan six (6) months after college graduation. The scholarship component, providing scholarships to PCHS graduating seniors, was added in 1976. From 1976 to the present, 272 scholarships totaling $ 183,950 have been provided to graduating seniors. The greatest number of scholarships were awarded to 24 individuals of the 2019 graduates totaling the highest amount ever awarded of $ 40,500.
The memorial scholarship funds are the
* Pauline H. and W. Blair Clark, Sr. and Family Memorial Scholarship (six scholarships provided by donors B. and Coates Clark, Blair and Beth Clark; and Anna and Chris Lester)
* James C. and Margaret S. Hiatt Memorial Scholarship
* Richard, Cornelius, and Vera Stanley Memorial Scholarship
* Orea G. Rakes Memorial Scholarship
* Fred Allen Memorial Scholarship (provided by donors Jim and Ursula Allen)
* Jesse Wood Sheppard Scholarship (provided by donors Eric Sheppard and family)
* Fern E. Pino Memorial Scholarship (provided by donors Jeannie and T.J. Meade)
* Susan Allen Huff Memorial Scholarship (provided by donors Jim and Ursula Allen)
* Mary Jane Taylor Senior Beta Memorial Scholarship (provided by donors Barry Taylor and family)
* Dorn O. and Gaynelle Spangler Memorial Scholarship
* Alfred Brammer Memorial Scholarship.
Special projects held by the Stuart Rotary Club annually fund six (6) scholarships totally $ 6,000 with one Stuart Rotary Club Scholarship named in honor of one of its decreased members, Judge John D. Hooker. The five (5) other designated Stuart Rotary scholarships are funded from proceeds from special projects conducted by the Stuart Rotary Club members. In addition to the Club’s contributions for scholarships, all proceeds from the Spring Demolition Derby and the proceeds from the 50/50 raffle at the Fair Demolition Derby are donated to the Alfred Brammer Memorial Scholarship Fund.
The Foundation began a new initiative in 2019 entitled the First-Generation Scholarship Program and provided funding for three $ 8,000 scholarships in its initial year of implementation. Two First Generation Scholarships were actually awarded to members of the 2019 graduating class. Funding for the First Generation Scholarships were provided by the Pauline H. and W. Blair, Sr. and Family Memorial Scholarship Fund, Anna and Chris Lester Foundation, Stuart Rotary Club.
Applicants must be the first individual in his/her family to attend college. In addition to an extensive application and interview process, recipients had to commit to maintain an acceptable college GPA and outstanding discipline record, participate in and attend certain Rotary meetings and events, and perform an annual minimum of 16 hours of community service. Recipients of the First-Generation Scholarships will also be assigned a mentor from the Stuart Rotary Club who will guide, advise, and assist students through their college experiences. The First-Generation Scholarship program provides a $ 2,000 scholarship annually for a maximum of four years (totaling $ 8,000) or until a bachelor’s degree is received.
All resources donated to the foundation are invested and managed by a board of directors. Current board members are Mac Deekens, President; Janice Wilkins, Vice-President; Jim Allen, Secretary; Judy Lacks, Treasurer; Marcus Brinks, Director; and Anna Clark Lester, Director.
