Rotary Log for May 24, 2108
The Portsmouth Country Club was abuzz with energy as we anticipated meeting 12 outstanding Portsmouth High School (PHS) students. Each would soon receive well deserved scholarships.
John Rice led us in My Country ‘Tis of Thee. Greeter Marie Brownell recited the Four-Way test. John Lyons gave a brief yet meaningful invocation.
There were so many guests, including families of scholarship recipients, that we just acknowledged all with a round of applause.
President Ben opened the meeting by announcing that we would soon be presenting more than $30,000 in scholarships. That’s a stellar day embodying Rotary values.
Announcements
Good news! Our 2019 dues invoices are here! See Joe Bove to pay in person or mail in your check.
Interact Advisor Joanie Dickinson reminds us to continue to bring in our pop tops. All those can tops go to raise money for Interact.
Gene Doherty invited everyone to the Lilac Festival at the Wentworth Coolidge Mansion. She also mentioned that she and her husband go regularly to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, where the Rotary distributes water filters to families. Rotary also offers classes in English and computer skills to children in the schools to help them get jobs. If anyone has an old computer they’d like to donate, they can be taken there and used to help students
The Rotary Golf Tournament is Friday, June 22 and still needs silent auction items.
Leo Gagnon pitched Portsmouth Rotary Day June 24 at the Fisher Cats. Tickets are just $36 per person. President Ben reminded Leo of another great reason to attend: the 90- minute “all you can eat” buffet. That caught Justin Finn’s ear.
Tristan Shanley and Marie Brownell were welcomed to the podium. Tristan said she was thrilled about the scholarships because she has an opportunity to honor her late father Joe Shanley. Rotary helped coordinate a scholarship in Joe’s name shortly after his deaths in 2012. Both her parents were committed to the community. Yet it was her mom who found herself “keeping the family afloat” while endlessly helping not just the family, but the community. Thus, Tristan was thrilled to present a Paul Harris Award to her mother, Cindi Shanley.
Cindi graciously accepted the award, well deserved for all she does for others. She said she was completely surprised by the honor and expressed her gratitude for the recognition.
The 50/50 raffle ($48 with a $250 match) was won by one of the scholarship recipients, Mark Weathersby.
The program.
The Scholarship Committee reviewed many applications and interviewed numerous candidates. The winners, all PHS students, were selected on the basis of academic performance and community service. Each student is awarded $2900, although CIndi noted that not one asked how much they would be receiving. Most of that scholarship money comes from the Christmas tree sales.
Brianna Mastro, who just finished her freshman year at UNH, delivered an impressive address to our recipients. Ms. Mastro won a Rotary scholarship last year. Now she is an Earth Science major and “loves rocks and dinosaurs.”
What she like best about college is not just being able to “geek out,” but also finding your passion. She is in the UNH honors program and Secretary of Rotaract. While schoolwork and grades are very important, she says, students must get out into the world and do things to help others.
Brianna said she had no doubt that they will be great at what they choose. But whatever they do, she implored them to be a good person.
“Look out for others and find out ways you can help others in the world,” she said.
Her second piece of advice is to relax. Learning to overcome struggles and handle the stresses of college life are key.
“You have the ability to do anything,” she said, “so now do great things in the world and be good doing it.”
Lindsey Hery presented the first scholarship to Chithra Singareddy. A “dream student,” according to her English teacher, Chithra took only AP classes this year, working in an assisted living facility in her free time. She wants to be a dermatologist and will be attending Dartmouth.
Next up was Grace Smith, ranked in the top ten of her class. Grace is also a fine student athlete, member of the New Hampshire Theatre Project and belongs to the PHS marching band. She took AP Spanish and wants to study abroad. Grace will attend Oberlin College.
Leo Gagnon introduced Ceilidh Shea, an honor student and National Honor Society member. Her application included multiple pages of volunteering and community activities, some overseas in the poorest parts of the world. She will be attending Colorado College.
Leo also introduced Willem Gerri, an aspiring writer/journalist. His activities include four years of Interact, NHS, as well as playing guitar, tennis and chess. What struck Leo most on his application was a letter of recommendation from Willem’s best friend since second grade. That old pal mentioned Willem’s ability to balance all aspects of his life while he gravitates toward leadership roles. Willem is going to Dartmouth.
At 13, Jacob Morin knew he wanted to be a pilot. Involved in Interact, hockey, lacrosse and NHS, his application’s underlying theme is self-discipline. He is described as a “talented, hard-nosed kid who works hard to achieve his goals athletically and academically.” Jacob will attend Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.
Tristan and Cindi Shanley presented two Joseph J. Shanley Scholarships. Joe Shanley, for whom the award is named, was a prominent REALTOR with a wonderful sense of humor. He was also an extraordinary community volunteer, being one of the first to help Market Square Day get off the ground.
Hannah Allen, who will major in elementary education at UNH, won the first award. Even though she couldn’t attend the interviews, Tristan knew Hannah was the right choice. A committed Interact member, Tristan is sure Hannah will be a wonderful educator and asset to the community.
The second recipient, Julia MacNair, wants to study fashion. Her recommendation lauds her for her willingness to take the initiative and dedicate herself to her studies while involved at many activities at PHS. This fall she is going to Marist College.
Getting back to the 12 recipients, Casey Penacho, wants to be a psychiatrist nurse practitioner. As part of her community service, she volunteered at a nursing home for patients with dementia. She is a member of NHS, Interact and co-captain of the softball team. She is attending Quinnipiac University.
Another scholarship winner is Sydney Ludes’ for whom the most cherished thing is her family--her “internal compass.” She is an accomplished student athlete, a member of Interact and NHS. She will be a premed major at Denison University.
Marie Brownell introduced Mark Weathersby. An Eagle Scout and robotics team captain, he already is an entrepreneur, owning High Voltage Creations. According to his physics teacher, he has a passion for learning and creating. He will no doubt bring that same passion to his studies at Rochester Institute of Technology.
Madison Coscia’s activities included soccer, basketball, spring track and Interact. An honor student ranked 17th in her class, she values honesty and kindness as the most important qualities one can have. This fall she will be attending Boston College.
Finally, the Bill Genimatas Scholarship was presented by daughters Kathleen VanCantfort and Carol Miller. Their father was a Rotary member for years and she remembers he always went every Thursday no matter what.
This year’s recipient is Clay Hundermark. Ranked 16th in his class, Clay is an NHS member, on the Executive Board of a Interact and a chess tutor at public library. Involved in many community projects, Kathleen felt her father, who valued education and giving back to the community, would be very proud of him. Clay will attend Bates College and wants to major in physics.
