Today was an In-Person meeting at Madeline’s Restaurant in Fogelsville. It was our annual Scholarship Award Day. There were 42 of us in person and 9 more on Zoom.
Our Greeter was Laurie Grube . Treasurer Chris Blechschmidt handled the Registration and the Happy Dollars.
GUEST:
Kyle Fell, General Manager at Amazon.com, the Kindle donors; Dr. Ann Bieber, President of LCCC; Jennifer Holman, Supt. NWL school district; Allison McPeek, Parkland H.S.Tina Luey,LCTI; and Many Parents and their student winners.
OPENING:
Pres. Gail Micca at 7:30 rang the bell and started the meeting.
Ernie Boll gave a very nice invocation.
Then Ron Coleman led us in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag of the U.S.
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
AWRC 60TH ANNIVERSARY PARTY:
We did it. It was great.
PARKLAND C.A.R.E.S.:
Karen Rodgers will lead the next event on May 7th.
KINGDOM LIFE FOOD BANK DATE CHANGE:
The next distribution is on May 28th.
ROTARY DAY OF SERVICE -- APRIL 30:
Jeanne Shipe, Project Chair, reports that Participating in the Rotary Day of Service in honor of Earth Day, six Allentown West Rotarians assisted in traffic flow at the Lower Macungie Township Building Complex for a paper shredding event. Three shredding trucks were hired by the offices of PA Senator Pat Browne and PA State Representative Ryan Mackenzie to safely dispose of sensitive paper materials dropped off by the public.
It was a beautiful sunny day which added to the fun of directing cars to the right place to drop off their paper for shredding. The well-organized event handled almost 700 cars in 3.5 hours--a tribute to their staff. AWRC representatives were: Ron Coleman, Laurie Grube, Diana Dunn, Dennis Houser, Herb Klotz, Jeanne Shipe & Helen Papathanasiou. It was the perfect way to wrap up Allentown West Rotary's 60th Anniversary celebration week.
SNACK PACKS:
Last Wednesday, April 27th was the snack packing event at Parkland H.S. It went well.
MEALS ON WHEELS_
Helen Papathanasiou is Chairing the M.O.W. program for the next few months. Please let Helen know if you will substitute.
AWRC GREEN THUMB GARDEN:
On May 12th we will have a “Planting Day.”
“KINDER KINDNESS” PROGRAM:
This new program is underway. We have purchased and delivered 700 books for Parkland kindergarten children, and also 150 books for Northwestern Lehigh kids. AW Rotarians helped deliver them.
R.Y.L.A CAMP NEIDIG:
The Camp Neidig Registration Site is now officially open! Our 2022 Camp Neidig Youth Leadership Program will be held June 17th- June 20th at Camp Manatawny. All forms are available on that website https://www.campneidig.com/forms--registration.html.
If appropriate, PLEASE download the Neidig Chairperson packet as it has all the necessary registration instructions.
Proof of COVID-19 vaccination will be required for students to attend camp.
AW Rotarians are needed to volunteer for this weekend.
HAPPY DOLLARS:
Gwenn Carr is happy to report that the STEM-YEA fundraiser at Indian Valley C.C. in Telford netted over $17,000 to fund this year’s project. They now have all expenses covered.
Amir Famili is happy to thank LCCC’s Ann Bieber for having one of the three refugees living in the LV classified as a resident to reduce the LCCC yearly cost from $4,500 to $1,000.
Bill Palmer praised Pres. Gail Micca and her team for the great party last Friday evening.
Katrina Sundstrom is happy that their son’s nose is not broken from yesterday’s baseball game.
Ernie Boll is just happy.
Tori Morgan is happy with Gail Micca and the party.
NEXT MORNING MEETING:
Wednesday May 11th IN-PERSON at Madeline’s in Fogelsville. We will start at 7:30 A.M. Come early and chat.
Our program will be Jim White, Commander - US Coast Guard Auxiliary discussing the Coast Guard & Guard Auxiliary, Always Ready to Make a Difference in Our Local Communities.
PROGRAM:
Pres. Gail Micca introduced Dr. Barbara Kistler, Scholarship Committee Chair, to conduct the AWRC Annual Scholarship Presentations for NWL HS, Parkland HS, LCTI & LCCC Students.
Barbara’s script for this event follows. Barbara noted that it has been two years since we held this event in-person. She also noted that one award recipient could not be here today.
“Again, we welcome you to the Allentown-West Rotary Club Scholarship Breakfast. To start our program with some words of inspiration I’ve asked the President of Lehigh Carbon Community College, an Honorary Member of Allentown-West Rotary Club, for the second year on the Lehigh Valley Business Power 100 list for her leadership and community engagement, and my friend Dr. Ann Bieber to say a few words.
“The Allentown-West Rotary is delighted to award 7 scholarships to students from Northwestern Lehigh High School, Parkland High School, Lehigh Career and Technical Institute and Lehigh Carbon Community College. One of those is a very special scholarship in memory of Rotarian Michael Henry.
“Students applied for these scholarships by completing an online application requiring general information including academic performance and paragraphs describing school and community service involvement, leadership skills, and future career goals. Service and leadership were the twin characteristics which formed the basis of the selection process along with a strong academic record.
“The scholarship selection committee met and reviewed the applications. The committee includes Amir Famili, Gwenn Carr, Laurie Grube, myself as chair with Gary Englehardt as our technical advisor. Thank you to all. It’s always a difficult task. While there were many deserving applicants, we believe these 7 students best met the criteria to select the best out of many strong applications. As we focus on each student, we hope you will be inspired by the accomplishments of our winners.
“At this time I want to acknowledge and call up Mr. Kyle Fell, General Manager at Amazon.com in Breinigsville. Mr. Fell will be presenting each of the winners with a Kindle Fire compliments of Amazon.com. Amazon wishes to reward students who have done well and also provide a tool to make future learning easier.
“We’re going to start with LCCC. The two ladies we are honoring today have already proven themselves as leaders and successful learners in a two-year college setting. They are both transferring to four year universities.
“I want to call up Callie Hayman and Transfer Counselor, Fauzia Graham and Dr. Bieber.
“I want to welcome Callie’s proud parents from near Lehighton, Mark and Karen Hayman. Callie has done volunteer service projects all through her high school years, but most recently assists with the Mahoning Valley Fire Company with their community carnival days. She maintains her CPR and AED certifications should the need arise in her volunteer work. She has also helped with Call to Care, Family Promise of Carbon County, Feed a Neighbor, and Run for the Red race through her local Red Cross. She is an active volunteer at her church helping with Vacation Bible School. She is an active volunteer pianist and singer in a praise band. She uses her musical talents as well in the Zion Opera Workshop. At LCCC she is a member of Phi Theta Kappa, the community college national honor society. Callie was selected to be in the Misercordia University honors program with a goal of obtaining a Bachelor’s degree in Diagnostic Medical Sonography. She wants to use her skills and passion to help save lives.
“Ms. Graham, would you like to say a few words on behalf of Callie.
“On behalf of the Allentown-West Rotary Club it is our privilege to present you with a $1000 scholarship to Misericordia University along with our best wishes for a bright future.
Pres. Gail presented certificates/checks and Amazon—Mr. Fell presented the Kindle and pictures of each group will be taken by Gary in front of the backdrop.
“I’d like to invite Amber Kalnas to join us. We want to welcome Amber’s mother, Mary Jane Kalnas who has joined us to share in this honor.
“Amber is active in and out of school. She also volunteers at her church and in her community. While in high school she was the student representative to the Catasauqua School Board. She has held several part time jobs including supervisor at one. At LCCC she is also part of Phi Theta Kappa, the national honor society for community colleges.
“In high school Amber was president of the Journalism class and her career goals include receiving a Bachelor’s degree in Corporate Communications from Penn State Lehigh Valley.
“Amber, would you like to share what you see yourself doing after getting your degree?
“It is our pleasure to help you succeed in your goals. The Allentown-West Rotary Club extends to you our congratulations and best wishes with this $500 award.
Northwestern Lehigh is next.
“At this time I’d like to invite up Morgan Micklus.
“We welcome her parents, Tom and Tammy Micklus.
“Morgan’s application was full of leadership opportunities and activities. She is the LEO Club President. LEO is a service club which regularly does projects such as make holiday cards for a local nursing home and Easter eggs for a daycare center. She has been on Student Council for three years, this year as Treasurer. She’s also a part of Key Club –another service club; Vice-President of National Honor Society; President of Science National Honor Society. She had served four years on the Yearbook staff and is currently Co-Editor. She’s a member of the Lehigh Valley Youth Council which got her participating in building garden beds for an elementary school in Easton and coordinating a fundraiser for the Gift of Life foundation. There’s more plus she works part-time.
“With her abundant energy she plans to attend DeSales University to major in medical studies on a Pre-Physician Assistant track. We need and support essential workers so we are delighted, Morgan, to present you with this $1000 scholarship to get you started on your career path.
Ryan McDonnell is our second Northwestern Lehigh scholarship winner, but was unable to attend today due to AP testing. We will be acknowledging him at next week’s meeting.
“Now for our Parkland winners. Would Demi Olatilo and Ms. McPeek, Parkland Counselor come forward along with our own Rotarian, Katrina Sundstrom, Executive Director of Parkland CARES food pantry.
“We warmly welcome Demi’s parents Ade and Ronke Olatilo.
“Oludemilade Olatilo is known as Demi to those of us who have worked with her at Snack Packing at Parkland. Demi is our Interact-member scholarship winner and serves as treasurer of the Parkland Interact Club.
“Demi looks forward to the Snack Packing episodes which specifically addresses the hunger insecurity of her fellow students. She has done volunteer work at Parkland CARES and Kingdom Life Food Bank. She has also done service projects with The Almina Foundation, Allentown Youth Soccer Association Youth Clinics where she is volunteer director, and was named team member of the year for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society Students of the Year.
“Her leadership credentials include co-founder and co-president of the Black Student Union, Varsity Girls Soccer Captain, Leo Club Vice-President, National Honor Society President, Parkland School District Equity and Inclusion Committee student outreach director and Spanish Club member.
“For four summers Demi has worked for a sourcing company, HONU Worldwide. She observed elements of supply chain logistics such as negotiating with suppliers and navigating international tariffs. This has led her to next steps in exploring the business world. She’s been accepted into the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania.
“I’d like to call on Allison McPeek and then Katrina Sundstrom to say a few words about Demi.
“Demi it is a great honor for the Allentown-West Rotary Club to award our $1500 Interact student scholarship to you today. Congratulations.
“Another Parkland super-star, Reagan Kinney, would you please come forward. We would like to welcome Reagan’s family, Traci, Scott, and Susan Kinney.
“By her own words, “Service has always been an essential part of my life”. She is President of the Key Club, ensuring that her classmates get the opportunity to volunteer and serve their community. She has clocked over 150 volunteer hours throughout her high school career. She’s volunteered at the Northern Valley Food Bank as well as Parkland CARES. She was co-director of the 9/11 Heroes Run for the Travis Manion Foundation. She does “Adopt a Highway” clean-ups and was the director of Operation Legacy ”Heroes Fighting Hunger” Food Drive collecting over 1000 items of food for Parkland CARES.
“Reagan is President of Peer Assisted Learning Support (PALS) Club, member of the Girls’ Soccer Team serving as co-captain last year, and member of Parkland’s Track and Field Team. She is a member of Parkland’s Welcome Pack, President of the American Sign language Society, member of the Spanish Honor Society, Mathematics Honor Society and National English Honor Society.
“I’m going to ask Reagan what she wants to major in at Florida State University, but first I want to hear testimonials about this service and leader dynamo from Counselor McPeek and Mrs. Sundstrom.
“On behalf of the Allentown-West Rotary Club it is my pleasure to award you this $1000 scholarship in recognition of your outstanding service and leadership skills.
“The Michael Henry Scholarship Award is given each year in memory of Mike Henry by his family. This scholarship in the amount of $500 is designated for a Northwestern or Parkland student who attends Lehigh Career and Technical Institute. This year the winner is Hailie Reinhard from Parkland attending LCTI. I’d like to ask her and her counselor from LCTI, Tina Luey to join us. Welcome to Hailie’s mother, Jennifer Wilson and brother, Preston Wilson.
“Hailie volunteers at the Kutztown Manor and Topton elderly home for many social activities. She also works with her brother during therapy sessions at Helping Hands Family as well as other events geared toward special needs children. She has participated in Autism Speaks Walk and has raised money for St. Jude’s Children Hospital during their trike-a-thon. She is a member of the student council at LCTI and a senior dancer at Accent School of Dance helping with many of their fundraisers. She has held several part-time jobs including her current position at Weis Markets in customer service. Hailie is currently in the dental assistant program at LCTI. She wants to continue her studies with a goal of becoming a dental hygienist at Northampton Community College.
“Hailie you have all the features we were looking for to be a Michael Henry winner—hardworking and eager to help others. Ms. Luey do you have any comments to add.
“On behalf of the Allentown-West Rotary Club we are pleased to present you with the Michael Henry Memorial Scholarship of $500 and wish you all the best in your future.
CLOSING:
Pres. Gail led us in reciting our motto “One profits most who serves
best.”, rang the bell and adjourned the meeting.
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