This evening, 10 young women who are about to graduate from high school were awarded scholarships totaling well over $5,000 from the Batavia Zonta Club.
Kasey Edgerton, from Oakfield-Alabama High School, who was described as “a scholar, an actor, a feminist…a volunteer,” was awarded the Young Women in Public Affairs Scholarship.
Kasey will study English and Japanese at SUNY Albany with plans to become a teacher of English as a Second Language.
The Winnie Legg Business Award was given to Amy Schmidt, who will begin her studies in International Business at Elmira College after graduating from Batavia High School. As she wrote in her application, Amy enjoys traveling abroad as well as interacting with people of different cultures and hopes to incorporate these interests in her career.
Aimee Hurlbut, also a student at Batavia High, was awarded the Muriel Pies Art Scholarship.
Aimee plans to study in a 2+2 program through Genesee Community College and Roberts Wesleyan College, where she will major in Business Administration and Graphic Design. A recommendation letter from her coach explained that, “(s)he feels that she must not only take time to improve her own life but also to improve the lives of others.”
The Sis Babbage Scholarship for music was awarded to Maryssa Peirick from Batavia High School, who will study Vocal Performance at SUNY Fredonia in the fall. Maryssa aspires to sing with the New York Metropolitan Opera.
She wrote, “I know that perseverance and dedication are what will make me successful.”
Justine Saraceni of Notre Dame High School was given the Education Scholarship.
Justine will study Childhood and Special Education at St. John Fisher College. She was described as being very active in the community, including extensive volunteer work. She was quoted as having written in her application, “I need to be willing to fight through any obstacle that comes my way.”
A Batavia High School Student, Nicole Guilds, was presented with a Math & Science Scholarship. She will study Nursing at Genesee Community College, with plans to transfer to D’Youville College.
Nicole aspires to work in the oncology ward of a hospital like Women’s and Children Hospital in Buffalo. She wrote that she “will be able to educate less fortunate women.”
A Scholarship for Math & Science was awarded to Kelsey Scott of Elba High School, who will be attending SUNY Geneseo to study Biology. The valedictorian of her class, Kelsey participates in numerous activities including SADD, the Big Buddy Program and Pageturners.
In a letter of recommendation, her library club advisor explained, “I have found her to be a mature young lady with great potential.”
Alexis Kegler from Pavilion Central was given the Mabel Ellis Memorial Scholarship in Math & Science. She will be studying Nursing in a 2+2 program with Genesee Community College and SUNY Brockport.
In her application, Alexis expressed her motivation to succeed in the sciences, a field that remains somewhat male-dominated.
A Math & Science Scholarship was also awarded to Nicole Bailey of Byron-Bergen High School. Nicole will attend Clarkson University to study Environmental Engineering. She plans to help companies to “go green.”
In a letter of recommendation, Nicole’s Social Studies teacher and coach stated, “I have no doubt…she will make her community proud.”
Brittani Scharlau from Alexander High School was presented with the Ann Robertson Memorial Scholarship in Math & Science. In the fall, she will be attending the Rochester Institute of Technology with a major in Diagnostic Medical Sonography.
Brittani’s Advanced Placement English teacher wrote in a recommendation that she “thrives when challenged” and cited her character as one of her greatest strengths.
Zontanian Patti Pacino explained, “That’s what our group does; we take care of women all around the world and in our very local area.”
All of the award recipients were described as being very involved in their schools, activities in their communities and volunteer work.
This year, there were also many qualified applicants who could not be awarded scholarships; so, the Zonta Club is planning to add more scholarships. Patti Pacino closed by encouraging members to “get out there and work” in order to make even more scholarships available to young women in the community.
