In addition to recognition and awards, each student will receive a four-year, $5,000 scholarship, for a total of $20,000 toward attending Schreiner University.
While the large luncheon was not feasible this year due to COVID-19 restrictions, the club organized a virtual event that included the students, their parents, school administrators and teachers.
“The awards luncheon was originally scheduled last spring, but there was no way to make it happen at that time, so we rescheduled it to Aug. 5,” Rotary Club of Kerrville President Tammy Prout said. “We still didn’t feel it was safe to bring a large crowd together, but didn’t want these amazing young people to be overlooked. Event organizer Jeff Anderson and club administrator Kristy Vandenberg did an excellent job creating this online experience.”
Anderson and his committee of volunteers made sure all students and their families could log on to the meeting to be recognized. He also coordinated with Kroc Center staff to provide a socially-distanced gathering for families without access to the internet.
“We still got to see all of their faces and we hope that they felt as special as they are,” Prout said.
The students were selected by their respective school prinicipals last spring as fifth graders. The criteria for selection includes the concept of “Service Above Self,” the Rotary motto; and the six pillars of “Character Counts,” which are trustworthiness, respect, responsibility, fairness, caring and citizenship.