Rotary Club taking applications for annual scholarships

By Randy Grider
randy@casscountynow.com

The Atlanta Area Rotary Club will award three scholarships to local high school seniors totaling $9,000 this spring.
Seniors at Atlanta High School, Bloomburg High School, Linden-Kildare High School, McLeod High School and Queen City High School can apply for one of two $2,000 scholarships. Seniors at Atlanta High School also are eligible to apply to the $5,000 Peter and Maryann Van Bergh Scholarship.
Rotary Club Past President Jackie Icenhower said due to area communities’ overwhelming  support of the club’s raffle campaign that ended in December, Rotarians are offering two $2,000 scholarships this year.
“We don’t like to do scholarships less than $2,000 each,” Icenhower said. “We really want to make a difference. We feel $2,000 might make a difference in whether someone gets to go to school or not.”
“Icenhower said the scholarships, which are payable to any post-secondary school including trade and vocational schools, are very competitive.
“We have students write an essay, we look at grades, financial needs and activities,” Icenhower said.  
The deadline to apply is March 1 at 6 p.m. Applications are available  in each high school’s counselors’ offices and at the Atlanta Public Library. Winners of the scholarships will be announced during annual awards day programs at the school where the recipients attend.