Rotary Club of Taylor honored the top 10% of graduates from local high schools and awarded its $6000 Bunnell-Rotary Academic Scholarship Eva White at the club’s annual scholars banquet on May 1.
“These local graduates are the foundation for the future of our community,” Club President Tia Rae Stone said. “Eva stood out after a group of Rotarians read her essay about what the Rotary motto, Service Above Self, means to her and hearing her plans for the future during a one-on-one interview last week.”
The Rotary Club of Taylor has recognized the top 10% of the community’s graduating seniors since it created the student loan fund in 1923. This year, the club recognized 23 graduates from three schools and gave six other awards at the banquet.
“We are only able to do this because our community has supported the Taylor Rotary Club with its annual fundraisers,” Stone said, “And, of course, because of our dedicated Rotarians who have demonstrated the Rotary motto of ‘Service Above Self’ in Taylor for more than 100 years.”
The Rotary Club of Taylor has recognized the top 10% of the community’s graduating seniors since it created the student loan fund in 1923. This year, the club recognized 24 graduates and gave six other awards at the banquet. This year, the Club was proud to add the top graduate from St. Mary’s Catholic School in Taylor to its list of honorees.
Distinguished Educator of the Year awards went to Coach Shelli Cobb at Taylor High School and Chad Cryer at Legacy Early College High School. The DE is voted on by the Rotary Scholars at each campus.
Legacy ECHS graduates Jesus Cruz and Abigail Garcia were selected by their teachers to win the Service Awards for their campus. Jett VanBrocklin and Soryna McIntire received the Extracurricular Student Awards at Taylor High.
Taylor Honor Graduate Evelyn Waiwaiole, class of 1987, extolled the students to remember where they come from, to take chances and accept opportunities, to “stand for something,” and to practice forgiveness as they move through their lives.
The 2023 Rotary Scholars, representing the top 10% of their class were…
From St. Mary’s Catholic High School: Ryan Altman.
From Legacy ECHS: Jesus Cruz, Abigail Garcia, Evan Polasek and Eva White.
From Taylor HS: Augustin Calderon, Kenneth Calvo, Elaine Cervenka, Ryan Ferguson, Mason Hortenstine, Jake Jansky, Soryna McIntire, Bodie Randig, Jayshawn Ross, Miguel Ruiz, Ty Silverthorn, Zane Talavera, Jett Van Brocklin, Luke Vega, Connor Watson, Kileigh Weise, Casey Weison and Brennan Zupfer.
The Rotary Club of Taylor is committed to the idea of Service Above Self and works to support projects in Taylor and around the world. Its regular local projects include packing bags at Shepherd’s Heart Food Pantry on Wednesday afternoons and running routes for Meals On Wheels every third Thursday and the annual awards and scholarship at its scholars banquet.