Rotary Celebrates the Completion of a Successful STRIVE Year
Another successful STRIVE year is in the books. The annual Rotary STRIVE Recognition and Awards Banquet was held at the Inn at Shattuck-St. Mary’s this past Sunday evening’s celebration with inspiration, a bountiful meal, lots of joyful smiles, and students recognized for their achievements. The setting was stellar with Rotary banners, the American flag and the themed tables decorated with classic books. It was from quotes of those books that Rebekah Ciesluk, the Master of Ceremonies for the evening, joyfully inspired the students and guests with age-old wisdom to guide their very promising futures.
The evening began with the usual rituals of our typical Rotary meetings led by President Laura Bock. We were led in the Pledge of Allegiance, the Four Way Test, a Patriotic song, virtue reading, and an invocation. Laura gave an inspiring speech about the mission and good works of Rotary and our local club in particular and invited the students to be our guests for a Wednesday meeting.
A bountiful meal and delicious desserts were enjoyed by the 100 people or so gathered amidst round table discussions amongst students and their parents, honored guests, school officials from Faribault High School and Bethlehem Academy, STRIVE faculty and Rotarians. Carroll Springmeyer and Marian Bahl, whose husbands Steve and Wes were instrumental in starting STRIVE and have been great supporters of the program for many years were given special recognition.
After the meal, Greg Ciesluk, Rotary’s lead for the STRIVE program, presided over the scholarship awards and recognition of the STRIVE Scholars who completed the program through faithful attendance and completion of the scholarship application. The application involved reflecting in writing on Rotary’s Four Way Test and its motto “Service Above Self.” The scholarships were awarded to the following students in the amounts. Thatcher Simon ($3000), Jessica Ung ($2000), Arthur Badillo ($1500), Natalia Rodriguez ($1500), Viggo Baum ($1000), Izze Dokkestul ($1000), Morgan Borchert ($500), Elliot Daschner ($500), Darryn Miner ($500), Lindsay Rauenhorst ($500), and Joseph Steinberg ($500).
Additionally, in the spirit of the original vision of the STRIVE program to encourage students to take a renewed interest in the value of education, two additional students were recognized for improvement in academic performance during the STRIVE year. Those students were Abygale Dupont ($3000) and Johanna Ortiz ($1000). Monies are available to scholarship winners after proof is received for the successful completion of one semester of full-time college. The awards given to the above students totaled $16,500.
All 24 students were recognized as STRIVE Scholars and given certificates for completion of the STRIVE program and a modest cash award of $50.
The Rotary STRIVE program is one of the many ways our local club seeks to lift up the youth of our community. We can be proud of these students and the difference our efforts make in the promising lives and futures of young people.
