Four Seniors Win Rotary Scholarships

May 11, 2010: Four top Charleston high school seniors received $1,000 scholarships from the Rotary Club of Charleston for their commitment to serving the community.

“Today we will honor students from Ashley Hall, Burke, First Baptist and Porter-Gaud who have not only excelled academically, but who through their service have demonstrated that they are already acting on the ideals of Rotary,” said Rotarian Jeremy Cook, who heads the club’s scholarship committee.

Winners of the scholarship were:

Marjorie Hanger, Ashley Hall. Principal Mary Schweers, who introduced Hanger, said the student once said, “With education comes opportunity and responsibility, and she has taken that message to heart.” Hanger developed a volunteer program in Charleston, Dining with Women, to raise money and awareness of global issues. She said she learned through the project to try to make a difference in small ways – and that if a lot of people did that, there would be bigger change. She plans on attending DePaul University in Chicago.

Kimberly Bowman, Burke High School. Guidance Counselor Debra Woods outlined scholarship and other achievements by Bowman at the local school, including earning scholarship offers totaling $700,000. Bowman said in recent years she has valued working in the community in after school and programs to help the elderly. “I consider my time spent in the community my most significant experiences,” she said. “Devoting time to others’ lives is the most amazing contribution.” She will attend Susquehanna University in Selinsgrove, Pennsylvania.

Allie Hiott, First Baptist School. After counselor Sheree Bridges highlighted Hiott’s service as senior class president and design editor for the school yearbook, Hiott shared how she volunteered on two trips to a depressed West Virginia coal-mining town to help rebuild homes and learn new skills. Through the group projects, she said she learned that helping families made a big impact. “Serving others blesses me more than the people I help,” she said. Hiott will attend Wofford College in Spartanburg.

Katherine Smith, Porter-Gaud School. School coordinator Gretchen Tate introduced Smith as “one of the most dedicated and selfless student volunteers I have ever been associated with.” Over the past four years, Smith gave more than 120 hours of volunteer service with an emphasis on helping sick and elderly people. She said she planned to continue to volunteer, particularly in the Relay for Life program. She will attend the European Business School, an international college in Germany.

Cook summed up the scholarship presentation with a quote from Muhammad Ali: “Don’t count the days. Make the days count,” which it was obvious that all four students have done.

Submitted by Andy Brack, Keyway Committee