By Mary-Justine Lanyon
Seventy-four members of the Rim of the World High School Class of 2024 received scholarships at the annual awards night, held in the Performing Arts Center on May 20.
“This is my favorite event,” Principal Brian Willemse told the graduands. He reminded them that he himself had sat right where they were when he was a senior at Rim High.
“These students have given so much to their school and to the community,” he told the audience, made up of the students’ friends and family.
The Rim of the World Communities Scholarship Council had 54 applications and was able to award scholarships to every applicant – 52 at Rim High and two at Mountain High (those will be awarded at their graduation ceremony on June 4).
The 52 Council scholarships totaled $43,000.
Other groups and associations awarded 163 scholarships totaling $112,700.
“In case you don’t have your calculators out,” Willemse said, “that’s 215 scholarships for a total of $155,700. Nearly every dollar is from the local community. It gives me extreme pride and joy that they support our students so much.”
Diane Zhang received the first award of the night from Cindy Gardner, representing the Rim of the World Communities Scholarship Council.
The first scholarship from the Ted Roy Charity Foundation in the amount of $2,000 was awarded to Diane Zhang, the president of the National Honor Society who has served this year as the student representative to the Rim school board.
While most groups awarded one or two scholarships, some awarded many more.
James Gronley received the Lake Arrowhead Community Presbyterian Church Peacemaking award from the Rev. Dr. Bill Stanley. James was described as “a compassionate leader who actively promotes peace among his peers.”
The Rotary Club of Lake Arrowhead Mountain Sunrise gave out 18 scholarships, naming the student’s perseverance, leadership or service above self as they called their names. They also awarded scholarships in the arts, drama, band and fire technology.
The Rotary Club of Lake Arrowhead awarded 17 scholarships totaling $18,000. In keeping with their longstanding tradition, they also gave out $100 awards to 37 seniors with a GPA of 4.0 or higher.
Speaking for the Mountain Sierra Club, Karla Kellems said they usually give one scholarship but their four applicants were so outstanding, each received a $2,000 award.
Jim Ferranti, speaking for the UCLA Bruins, was excited to announce that not only had five Rim High seniors been accepted to UCLA but all five have committed to attend. Each was awarded $1,000, an award that will be renewed for the four years they are at the school.
The three students who will be attending Cal State San Bernardino also received awards that will be renewed each year.
“These students,” said Kristen Countryman, representing the Women’s Club of Lake Arrowhead, “are bright and talented. They have had a series of four difficult years,” referencing the pandemic and Snowmageddon. She presented 11 scholarships totaling $10,000.
Nicholas Nerio, commander of American Legion Post 360, presented nine scholarships for a total of $12,000.
Osvaldo Perez received the AVID scholarship from Rim of the World Education Foundation president Jo Bonita Rains.
The last scholarship of the evening was presented to Evangeline DeLeon, who plays saxophone in the Rim High jazz band.
Six students received scholarships from Soroptimist International of Rim of the World, represented by Jodie McDuffie.
Following the presentations, the students and their families enjoyed cake in the PAC foyer.
Congratulations to all the scholarship recipients!
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