Colorado Springs Rotary

Rotarian comments: What an outstanding young lady - very impressive! Cassie is warm, open and affable; highly goal oriented; self confident! Cassondra has a world view; she gave a moving presentation. About Cassie: Outstanding MESA Student Award Who’s Who Among American High School Students United States Academic Achievement in Mathematics National Honor Society Cassie was awarded the United States Academic Achievement Leadership Award. She participates extensively in her church as a choir member and altar server. She is actively involved in Ballet Folklorico as a dancer and teacher and attends Latino Youth Leadership Conferences. Cassie plans to attend the University of Notre Dame.

CONGRATULATIONS—BRITANY SMITH OUR 2006 ROTARY MERIT SCHOLAR,

PALMER HIGH SCHOOL

Rotarian comments: Brittany is one of the most mature students that I have met! She has great poise and maturity; a real leader. Brittany lives life to the fullest - passionate for community service! About Brittany: Palmer Student Body President National Honor Society United States Academic Achievement in Mathematics Diving Captain and Homecoming Queen Loves the outdoors: hiking, snowboarding, mountain biking, rock climbing Brittany is very athletic and has interests in music (voice, flute and piccolo). She is a past winner of the Imagination Celebration Poetry contest. She hopes to spend her summer as a whitewater river guide. Brittany plans to attend the University of Colorado at Boulder and major in Chinese and International Affairs. Purpose: To honor exceptional students from Wasson High School and Palmer High School for their academic, personal and philanthropic achievements with a monetary award for their college education.

THE ROTARY MERIT SCHOLAR PROGRAM:

Process:

1. The administration at each school is asked to provide the Rotary Club of Colorado Springs with a list of the top four G.P.A.s in the school as well as the Student Body President. If the SBP is one of the top four then the fifth top student is also nominated.

2. Students are scheduled to visit the club for two luncheons. The school determines which students will attend with luncheon. On the second meeting, the student will give a three minute presentation (speech, talent, reading, other – student’s choice.)

3. The students also prepare a 2 – 3 page essay incorporating the Rotary theme “Service Before Self” and/or the Four Way Test.

4. A member of the club is asked to host the student and their counselor or principle during their visits to the club. Hosting simply means that the Rotarian takes responsibility for greeting the student and counselor upon arrival, making them feel comfortable, introducing them to other Rotarians, enjoying conversation and getting to know the student a bit. The host will also complete an evaluation that will be used for selection purposes.

5. During the student presentation, up to ten Rotarians will be asked to evaluate the presentation. This evaluation will also be used for selection purposes.

6. The Scholar selection committee will select two winners based on a variety of criteria, including grades, community involvement, student involvement, essay evaluation, presentation and comportment at the rotary meetings.

2005/2006 Rotary Merit Scholar Nominations were:

Wasson High School

Cassie Montoya Jesse Moya Jesse Tomkins Amy Greene Jessie Cruz

Palmer High School

Krishn Khanna Graham Anderson Ben Pruitt Brittany Smith Ryan O’Connell

HOW YOU CAN HELP WITH THIS GREAT PROGRAM? 1. Sign up to host a student at a regular meeting of the Club. There is no cost involved to you. The Club pays for our visitors. 2. Sign up to serve on the Scholar Selection Committee. It meets once in April. You will also read essays prior to this meeting. 3. Complete the evaluation for the student presentations. 4. Make a contribution to the COMMUNITY SERVICE FUND which provides the funding for this great program. 5. Volunteer to be the Chairman for the upcoming school year.

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