In May, the Rotary Club of Easton awarded scholarships totaling $5,000 to five local high school seniors. The Rotary Club of Easton’s scholarship was established to foster Rotary’s philosophy of service above self. Applicants are evaluated based on their community service, academics, leadership activities, and athletics. Scholarship recipients attended two recent club meetings to thank Rotarians and to talk about their future plans and aspirations.
Easton High School’s Kaitlyn Allen graduated with more than 440 service learning hours.During her senior year, she served as Vice President of the Interact Club. Allen was also a member of National Honor Society, Student Government Association, National Junior Classical League Latin Honor Society, and National Technical Honor Society. She was captain of the varsity cheerleading squad for three years and was crowned Miss Maryland’s Outstanding Teen in 2018. Allen’s volunteer hours were served with Johns Hopkins Children’s Center, Ronald McDonald House Red Shoe Shuffle, and as an advocate for Healthy Smiles, Healthy Lives, to name a few. She attended the Hugh O’Brien Youth Leadership Conference her sophomore year and was a member of Eastern Shore Dance Academy Dancer during her high school career. Allen has also served as a Character Counts coach.This fall, she will be attending the University of Alabama, with the goal of becoming an orthodontist.
Emma Chapple, another Easton High School graduate, finished her high school career with more than 500 community service hours. She was a member of Girl Scouts for eight years, earning the Girl Scout Gold Award. She was also a member of Chesapeake Bay 4-H Club where she received the Maryland 4-H Diamond Clover Award. Chapple was a member of numerous clubs at Easton High School, including National Honor Society, National Technical Honor Society, Yearbook Club, and Key Club.She was also a Christ Church youth group leader and a member of the Eastern Maryland Youth Orchestra, Easton High School Marching Band, and EHS Symphonic Orchestra.Her volunteer activities include Talbot Interfaith Shelter, Chapel District Elementary School, Christ Church Youth Group, Camp Wright, Global Vision 2020, Toys for Tots, Chesapeake Bay 4-H Club, Rise Against Hunger, Waterfowl Festival, and Chapel District Sports, to name a few. Chapple will be attending Salisbury University this fall, where she plans to major in early childhood education and special education.
Minahil Cheema of Easton High School was a four-year member of the EHS Interact Club—a Rotary program designed to develop leadership skills in young people ages 12-18—where she served as Vice President and President. She received a Director’s Service Award from Rotary Club of Easton for her enthusiasm and leadership of the Interact Club at Easton High School, and for her service as 2015-2019 co-chair of the Rise Against Hunger Campaign. At the time of her scholarship application, Cheema had 433.5 documented service learning hours and a 4.304 GPA. She was a member of LEO Club, National Honor Society, National Technical Honor Society, Latin Honor Society, Sehat 4 All Charity Clinic, and Health Community Service Club. Cheema played on the Varsity Unified Tennis and Bocce Ball teams and served as a student page for the Maryland General Assembly in 2019. She will be attending University of Maryland, College Park this fall, with the goal of becoming a neurologist.
Emily Conlon, a graduate of Sts. Peter & Paul High School, was a member of Key Club, National Honor Society, Art Club, Philosophy Club, Needlecraft Club, Ecology Club, and International Club during her high school career, and served as an officer in four of those clubs.She volunteered with St. Vincent DePaul, Operation Christmas, and Special Olympics. During her time at SSPP, Conlon played four sports and was captain of the softball team. She worked at Doc’s Sunset Grille, Kiln Born Creations,and as a babysitter. Conlon will be attending Salisbury University in the fall and is undecided on her major at this time.
Tabius Wilson, Jr. graduated from Easton High School and is the founding President of the Brothers Entering Success Together (B.E.S.T.) Program. He founded the program his sophomore year after seeing a vital need to change the perception of African American students attending high school. The program is designed to provide attention and nurturing to positive young African American men at Easton High School by helping improve academics, develop leadership skills, and prepare for career readiness.Wilson was a member of the Spanish Honor Society, and National Honor Society, and served as Vice President of the Youth N.A.A.C.P., and Executive President of Student Government Association. He served as manager of the varsity basketball team for two years. Wilson will attend Hampton University in the fall, where he plans to major in computer science.
“The Rotary Club of Easton is pleased to be able to provide scholarships to these 5 exceptional students,” said Casey Baynard, Chair of the Rotary scholarship committee. “They each have been very active in their communities during their high school years and all received glowing recommendations from their high school counselors. We wish them all the best in their future careers and feel honored to help them in this small way to pursue their dreams. They exemplify the Rotary motto of Service Above Self, and I can’t think of five more deserving individuals for these scholarships.
The Rotary Club of Easton is comprised of nearly 100 professional men and women committed to the Rotary motto, “Service Above Self.” They are part of a global network of more than 1.2 million Rotarians who are changing lives in their own communities and around the world. As the world’s first Rotary Club in a town of fewer than 10,000 people, Rotary Club of Easton will host its centennial anniversary in 2021. The Club meets on Thursdays at noon at Scossa Restaurant in Easton. All are welcome. For more information, please visit eastonrotary.org.
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