Fourteen students who have excelled in academics, leadership and community service were recognized at the 2014 Rotary Club of Santa Monica scholarship awards luncheon held May 16. The students hailed from four middle schools, four high schools and Santa Monica College.
Each of the middle school recipients received a $100 check in recognition of their outstanding contributions to citizenship: Kyle Hadfield (Crossroads), Kyla Walker (John Adams), Anaya Beckles-Banks (New Roads) and Christopher Aguilar (Lincoln).
Olympic High School student Amanda Huffman received a $1,000 scholarship in the name of John English, who served as president of Rotary in 1947-1948.
The club awarded a $1,000 scholarship to Saint Monica High School graduating senior Mayra Cuellar in honor of Tom Fox, owner of Fisher Lumber in Santa Monica, who served as Rotary President in 1955-1956, and as president of other local charitable organizations.
Each year, the law firm of Harding Larmore Kutcher & Kozal funds a $1,000 scholarship to an outstanding student from New Roads High School. This year’s recipient was Spencer Cappiello.
The club awards two $1,000 scholarships to graduating seniors at Santa Monica High School in the name of Russell Hart (Samohi Hall of Famer, Rotary present 1929-1930, former Chamber president, and former Mayor). These winners were Aly Khan Bhamani and Emma Polhemus.
The club’s third Samohi award for $1,000 is given in honor of Clyde Smith, who passed away in 2009. This year’s recipient was Aubrey Dondick.
The club’s final presentations were to four students from Santa Monica College. The first scholarship for $1,000 honors Nick Holt, who died in 1981 at the age of 38. The award went to Maria Garcia Hernandez.
The Rotary Club honors Archie Morrison, former educator at John Adams and Santa Monica College, who ultimately served as a Vice President of SMC, through two $750 scholarships to SMC students. These recipients were Pavel Bokarev and Taynara Costa Moura.
This year, the Rotary Club of Santa Monica offered a new $1,500 scholarship to SMC students made possible by LA Tax Associates and current Rotarian Linda Teixeira. The recipient of this award was Jesse Ramirez.
