Rotary Club of Kent honors top graduates

Published 12:21 pm Thursday, May 30, 2013

For the Reporter

The Rotary Club of Kent recognized the top graduating seniors from the Kent School District and announced winners of more than $24,000 in scholarships at its annual scholar recognition event at Green River Community College on May 21.

Students in the top 5 percent of their graduating class, as determined by their individual schools, were invited to attend, along with their families.

Ninety-two students were honored, representing Kentlake, Kent-Meridian, Kentridge, Kentwood, Kent Phoenix Academy, Kent Mountainview Academy, and the new iGrad program.

Janie Sacco, president of the Rotary Club of Kent, emceed the program and Edward Lee Vargas, Kent School District superintendent, gave an inspirational opening. Students from each high school gave speeches on motivations of their success. School principals introduced their students individually, and announced their future plans.

Student speakers were Karanbir Singh from Kentridge, Maryam Idrees from Kent Phoenix Academy, Elizabeth Eaton from Kentlake, twin sisters Jestann O’Hara and Stephanie O’Hara from Kent-Meridian, and Ryan Turner from Kentwood.

Scholarship funds were raised at the annual Escapades Auction of the Rotary Club of Kent held at the ShoWare Center.

Eleven academic scholarships, of $2,200 each, were awarded to:

Kentlake

Evan Daus, Michael Raybuck

Kent Meridian

Liliia Boiko, Maylea Li, Hassna Ramadan

Kent Mountain View Academy

Max Goodin

Kent Phoenix Academy

Maryam Idrees

Kentridge

Shayla Otake, Karanbir Singh

Kentwood

Sung Min Chae, Ryan Turner

Liliia Boiko was awarded the Glenn Button Memorial Scholarship. Button was a career psychologist with the school district and a longtime member of the Rotary Club of Kent. He loved working with students, so this scholarship was his way of continuing to do just that. Glenn’s wife, Gladys, was in attendance and helped present the scholarship in his honor.

The Rotary Club of Kent will present vocational scholarships to students from the school district’s Career and Technical Education Program in early June.

LINK:

Kent Rotary Club: www.kentrotary.com