22 students from area schools receive 2026 awards
HIGHLANDS – The Rotary Club held their annual Scholarship Banquet last Monday night, May 4th, and awarded 22 scholarships totalling $40,500. This amount was due to the support of the community at the yearly Chili Feast, and exceeded last year’s total of $39,500.
The venue of the Highlands Community Center was festive and full with scholarship recipients, family and friends, and Rotarians and their families.
The emcee for the evening was past president Gaylynn Milliorn, and scholarships were presented by the Scholarship Chair, Dr. Larry White and Tricia Scott.
The scholarships are a result of the funds raised primarily at the club’s Annual Chili Feast in February. At this event, a new vehicle is raffled off to a $100 ticket holder, along with 13 other prizes, and the net proceeds are used for the scholarships and other community projects.
Over the years, these projects have included supporting projects at the Elementary School, and such groups as the Bay Area Homeless, Baytown Youth Fair, Bras for theCause, Cody Stephens Foundation, Crosby Fair & Rodeo, Highlands Food Pantry, Harris County Stratford Library, Harris County Seniors program, Highlands Horizons Miss Highlands Pageant, Highlands Little League, Highlands Volunteer Fire Department, Hurricane Relief, Methodist Church, Northshore Rotary, Partners in Education, Share Your Christmas, Stratford Library Summer Reading Program, Community Tree Lighting ceremony, Wreaths Across America, Thanksgiving Turkeys for needy families, and Precinct2gether, as well as many other projects.
The club estimates that since it started awarding scholarships, it has given out over $600,000 in scholarships to college bound students. Awards are from $1500 to $2500 per school year.
The idea of a Chili Feast, and a raffle for a new car, came from 3 Rotarians almost 50 years ago, said Rotarian Johnny Gaeke. RL Creel, WL Herndon, and Chester Stasney came up with the idea of the Chili Feast to raise more money than their current projects, such as a Christmas tree sale.
The Scholarship committee had a large field of 50 applications to review. The Review Committee consisted of 10 Highlands Rotarians, with Dr. Larry White as chair.
Committee members included Rotarians Denise Smith, Robert Woodall, Diana Weaver, Cora Lynn, Sheila MacDonald, Patricia Scott, Larry White, and Gaylynn Milliorn.
Dr. White explained that they were evaluated on grades, an essay, extra curricular activities, and recommendations. At the banquet, scholarships were presented by Dr. White and Tricia Scott, with special presenters for the named scholarships.
Scholarship Awards this year went to the following:
From Goose Creek Memorial High School:
— Lisbeth Garcia
— Randy Gonzalez
— Vivian Montez
— Alexa Guerrero
From Chinquapin Preparatory School:
— Camila Garza
— Melissa Garza
From Crosby High School:
— Ayslin Alvarez-Juarez
— Aylene Martinez
— Payton Abernathy
College Students:
— Simran Singh
— Daniela Garza
— Adrian Molina
— Abraham Greene
— Dahfne Guerrero
— Lluvia Morales
— Oscar Vazquez
— Ethan Earls
Named scholarships are in honor of Highlands Rotarians who contributed to the club and the community, and that have passed away. They are presented by a person who was best friends or family to the Rotarian that is being honored.
This year, the following special named Scholarships were:
Dr. W.L. Herndon DDS Scholarship, presented by Patricia Scott to Jansen Poitras of Robert E. Lee HS;
Beverly Culbreath Scholarship presented by Tricia Scott to Emma Rosenkranz of Hargrave High School;
Jay E. Bird Scholarships, presented by Dr. Larry White to Daphne Dominguez of Chinquapin Prep;
Chester Stasney Scholarship, presented by his daughter Elaine Marshall to Madisyn Allen of the University of Arkansas; Chester passed away five years ago, but he was known for his famous Chili recipe that is served annually at the club’s Chili Feast. This honor has passed to Rotarian, Johnny Gaeke.
Pat McPhee Scholarship presented by Barbara McPhee to Carys Murray of Crosby HS;
Tony Irwin Scholarship, presented by Karrie Torina to Ernest Roder of Crosby High School;
The Rotary Club of Highlands, and president Tricia Scott, say Congratulations to all!
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