The Rotary Club of Wilmette awarded 2017 scholarships to four outstanding students from New Trier, Loyola Academy and Regina Dominican High Schools and recognized students it sent to the Rotary Youth Leadership Academy. The ceremony was attended by winning students, parents and Rotary Club members.
For 36 years, the Rotary Club of Wilmette honored local students with academic scholarships. Nominations come from their college counselors who praise students for leadership, responsibility, work ethic, creativity and making the world a better place to live. Rotary Youth Leadership Awards provide a nationally-recognized weekend experience in Williams Bay, Wisc. that develops leadership skills and connections in a friendly environment.
The scholarship winners from New Trier High School include Carissa Yang. She’s a top student with six AP classes, a gifted cello player in the school’s top orchestras and Science Olympiad team winner. She organized a charity program to bring music to assisted living centers, tutors and helps other students at New Trier. She’ll attend Colby College.
New Trier’s YeSol An helps lead the Korean Club and International Club, volunteers at Vacation Bible School, took a Kenyan mission trip, serves on the Powerlifting Club and readily shares her time and talents. She’ll attend the University of Illinois.
From Loyola Academy, Peri Ehlman is known for intelligence and work ethic. She excels in academics and is involved in athletics, scholastic clubs, a scholar’s program for gifted students and a small business she created. Ehlman will attend Northwestern.
From Regina Dominican, Claire Beitler is a Leadership Scholar in honors and AP classes. She’s student council president, plans school fundraisers, mentors students, organizes many committees and plays on the soccer team. She’ll attend Emory University.
For the Rotary Youth Leadership Awards, Regina Dominican’s Leadership Institute Director, Dr. Linda Liang, presented a program overview with photos of attending Regina Dominican students Grace Owens, Sarah Rabbitt, Moira Guthrie and Ziying (Anna) Li.
Submitted by the Rotary Club of Wilmette