May 18, 2022
The Rotary Club of Salisbury, in conjunction with the Community Foundation of the Eastern Shore, has awarded six college scholarships, continuing their longstanding support of youth in our community.
Five students received awards of $1,000 each from the Helen C. Wootton Scholarship Fund. Ms. Wootton was a long-time employee of the Wicomico County public school system. She believed every student should have the opportunity to further his or her education. A fund was established at the Community Foundation of the Eastern Shore in her name to honor her service to the youth of this community and provide scholarships to students from each Wicomico County public high school. Since 2009, the Rotary Club of Salisbury has awarded more than $38,000 to 35 deserving seniors in her name.
The scholarships are awarded to students demonstrating financial need, a commitment to service, exhibiting leadership, and a strong alignment with Rotary’s Four-Way Test code of conduct. The Four-Way Test asks Is it the truth, Is it fair to all concerned, Will it bring goodwill and better friendships, and Will it be beneficial to all concerned?
2022 scholarship recipients are:
- Lukas Overton-O’Hara from James M. Bennett High School, attending Drexel University and planning to study engineering.
- Sun Ho Baek from Parkside High School, attending Davidson College to study Computer Science.
- Robert Schaller from Wicomico Senior High School, attending the University of Maryland to study Government and Public Policy.
- Madeline Umsted from Mardela Middle and High School, attending the University of Maryland to study Criminology & Criminal Justice.
- Jennifer Arion of Parkside High School having completed a course of study in the Wicomico Public Schools Career and Technical Education program, attending East Carolina University to become a nurse.
The Rotary Club of Salisbury additionally awards a scholarship honoring former Rotarian Charles Whitmore. This scholarship was established with the Community Foundation of the Eastern Shore by Mr. Whitmore’s family in 2016. It provides a $2,500 scholarship to a female senior accepted into an engineering program at the post-secondary level. The 2022 recipient is Alena Zheng, graduating from James M. Bennett High School and accepted to the A. James Clark School of Engineering at the University of Maryland.
Stacey McMichael, this year’s Rotary Club of Salisbury Scholarship Chair, said the scholarship committee was pleased with the number of strong applications. “We are grateful for the opportunity to support our students and help them continue their educations.”
The Rotary Club of Salisbury is in its 103rd year of service to our community. Interested in becoming one of the club’s People of Action? Contact Ginnie Malone at 410-251-6188 or gmalone@cbmove.com.