The successful fundraising efforts of the Belfast Rotary Club are celebrated at a May luncheon when area students are awarded scholarships in the categories of leadership, service, and vocational achievement. Those who compete for the scholarships are nominated by high schools in Waldo County: Belfast Area High School, Searsport District High School, and Mount View High School, as well as the Waldo County Technical Center. The size and number of scholarships awarded depends upon the funds available.

2011 Scholarship Winners

The 2011 Rotary Scholarship winners are an incredible group of young people. They have the usual achievements you might expect: top class rankings, student athlete awards, class officers, drama productions, honor bands and choruses, National Honor Society, German award, Peer Leadership, writing awards, professional certifications and National Merit Scholarship awards.

And their achievements aren’t limited to school activities. These teens have been on mission trips with church groups, have volunteered in soup kitchens and in putting together holiday baskets; worked with Peace Jam and for the Liberian Education Fund and one recipient wasn’t able to accept her scholarship in person because she is presently in Africa as a volunteer teacher.

This year $25,000 in scholarships were awarded to seven local students. The students were nominated by their schools and then interviewed before the final selections were made.

This year’s seven award winners are:

• Kaitlyn Schweikert (back row, far right)
Belfast Area High School
$5,000
Pitman Leadership Scholarship
College plans: Stone College

• Colby Blanchard (seated, far left)
Mt. View High School
$4,500
Rotary Leadership Scholarship
College plans: Pace University

• Margaret Clark (back row, far left)
Mt. View High School
$4,500
Rotary Leadership Scholarship
College plans: Skidmore College

• Maya French (not shown)
Belfast Area High School
$4,000
F. Frederick Romanow Jr. Service Scholarship
College plans:

• Kristina Kelley (back row, center)
Belfast Area High School
$4,000
Rotary Service Scholarship
College plans: Maine Maritime Academy

• Amber Gum (seated, center)
Mt. View High School and
Waldo County Technical Center
$1,500
Rhodes Scholarship
College plans: Eastern Maine Community College

• Robert Powell
Mt. View High School and
Waldo County Technical Center
$1,500
Lawson Scholarship
College plans: University of Maine