Rotary Club Annual Scholarship Awards Coincides with Visit From Jordanian Skypers

The information below comes from the Rotary Club of Highland Park and Highwood.

The Rotary Club of Highland Park/Highwood will host the Rotary Club Annual Scholarship Awards Luncheon and will be visited by a group of students from Jordan who have been skyping with Elm Place students throughout the school year. 
The scholarship awards ceremony is a celebration of Rotary giving and the chance for the nine Highland Park High Schools students who are receiving college scholarships to meet the Rotarians who are responsible for making their college dreams come true, and to pick up their check.  
A total of $38,000 will be awarded at this year’s luncheon to nine Highland Park High School Seniors.  Lesly Barrera - Interact Scholarship, Eric Avila, Kimberly Isaacs, Caroline Lester, Ivan Rodriguez, Mateusz  Skrzyniecki, Connie Uribe and Edwin Cruz.  The nine students were chosen from a large pool of applicants and were evaluated on their academic record and their commitment to community service and values.
A very special scholarship will be awarded this year to Francesca Castelli in memory of Tom Bahr, a man who exemplified what it means to be a Rotarian and a part of the Highland Park Community.  
The Bahr family will be on hand to present the scholarship. 
Ten Elm Place students recently took first place in the Illinois Community Problem Solving Competition.  The team includes five students in rural Jordan.  Together, they use books to build bridges of friendship and to improve critical thinking skills.  Former Elm Place student Emily Scott is facilitating the project with the Jordanian students, now a Peace Corps volunteer in Jordan.  The Elm Place and Jordanian students communicate weekly via Skype, and will share their experiences with The Rotary Club. 
“What a day this is going to be.  Rotary knows no boundaries, and being visited by students from Jordan is a privilege that just so happens to be on the same day we are providing scholarships to outstanding young adults in our community” commented Rotary President Burt Schmarak.  
The public is invited but seating is limited. The luncheon will be held on June 3, 2013 at 11:30 am at the Country Club of Highland Park.  RSVP at dawnrotary@gmail.com or by phone at 847-780-4694