The Stuart Rotary Student Loan and Scholarship Foundation, Inc., awarded scholarships totaling $61,500 to 31 graduating Patrick County High School’s (PCHS) seniors at a May 9 awards program.
Since its creation in 1968, organization Treasurer Judy Lacks said the loan program has provided 144 loans totaling $170,375 to students.
“A student can apply each year they are in school for a maximum of $1,500 as a loan, and the interest rate right now is 3.5 percent. Interest is not added on, and the student does not start paying their loan back until six months after they graduate with their bachelor’s degree,” she said.
Lacks said the loan program was the first component that was added when the foundation 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.
“It gave low-interest loans to students, and then in 1976 was when they added the scholarship” component, she said.
Since 1976, 393 scholarships worth $385,950 have been awarded to graduating seniors.
Lacks said 20 of the scholarships are provided through perpetual memorial scholarships funded by family members wishing to honor and remember their loved ones.
“One of the 31 scholarships is funded by the Stuart Rotary Club in honor of one of its deceased members, Judge John D. Hooker. Six designated Stuart Rotary scholarships are funded from proceeds from special projects conducted by the Stuart Rotary Club members,” she said.
In 2019, Lacks said the foundation began its First-Generation Scholarship program to support those who are their first in their families to attend college.
“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,” she said.
Four students were chosen for the 2024 First-Generation Scholarship.
Lacks said funding for two of the $8,000 scholarships were provided by the Pauline H. and W. Blair Clark, Sr. and Family Scholarship account. The other two scholarships were funded by the Stuart Rotary Club.
All resources donated to the foundation are invested and managed by a board of directors. Current board members are Anna Clark Lester, President; Dayna Bobbitt, Vice-President; Lacks, Secretary/Treasurer; W.B. Clark, Jr., Director; Pam Craig, Director; Melanie Culler, Director; Susan Gasperini, Director and Barry Taylor, Director.
Photos and information about all of the scholarships awarded to the Class of 2024 can be found inside this newspaper.
Below is a list of the 31 students receiving 2024 scholarships through Stuart Rotary Student Loan and Scholarship Foundation, Inc.:
| Pauline H. and W. Blair Clark, Sr. and Family Memorial Scholarship | Draiden Archambo |
| Pauline H. and W. Blair Clark, Sr. and Family Memorial Scholarship | Hannah Wood |
| Pauline H. and W. Blair Clark, Sr. and Family Memorial Scholarship | Sabrina Rorrer |
| Pauline H. and W. Blair Clark, Sr. and Family Memorial Scholarship | Andrew Taylor |
| Pauline H. and W. Blair Clark, Sr. and Family Memorial Scholarship | Aniya Penn |
| Pauline H. and W. Blair Clark, Sr. and Family Memorial Scholarship | Kali Craig |
| Pauline H. and W. Blair Clark, Sr. and Family Memorial Scholarship | Madeline Heath |
| James C. and Margaret S. Hiatt Memorial Scholarship | Ananiah Jenkins |
| James C. and Margaret S. Hiatt Memorial Scholarship | Kyle Handy |
| Richard, Cornelius, and Vera Stanley Memorial Scholarship | Cheyenne Clifton |
| Ann Belcher and Orea G. Rakes Memorial Scholarship | Kylee Joyce |
| Fern E. Pino Memorial Scholarship | Levi Vipperman |
| Dorn O. and Gaynelle Spangler Memorial Scholarship | James Brintle |
| Dorn O. and Gaynelle Spangler Memorial Scholarship | Cecilia Cisneros |
| Susan Allen Huff Memorial Scholarship | Ethan Cobbler |
| Fred Allen Memorial Scholarship | Gina Rubio |
| Jesse Wood Sheppard Scholarship | Matthew Allen |
| Mary Jane Taylor Senior Beta Memorial Scholarship | Hunter Meade |
| Alfred Brammer Memorial Scholarship | Maria Turner |
| Patty Hazelwood Memorial Scholarship | Curtis Busick |
| John D. Hooker Scholarship | Heather Edwards |
| Stuart Rotary Scholarship | Luke Cutchins |
| Stuart Rotary Scholarship | Montana Oxendine |
| Stuart Rotary Scholarship | Stephen Spencer |
| Stuart Rotary Scholarship | Brandy Quesinberry |
| Stuart Rotary Scholarship | Marissa Brown |
| Stuart Rotary Scholarship | Lauryn Williams |
| First Generation Scholarship – Clark | Remi Miller |
| First Generation Scholarship – Clark | Caleb Morris |
| First Generation Scholarship – Rotary | Nathan Large |
| First Generation Scholarship – Rotary | Bobbijo Roberts |
