The Rotary Club of Knoxville awarded four scholarships to area graduates at a luncheon on Tuesday at The Foundry – two are four-year $20,000 scholarships and two are one-time $5,000 scholarships.
Jennifer Sepaniak chairs Rotary’s Scholarship Awards Committee. “This year we reviewed a record 70 scholarship applications from students representing 16 area high schools,” she said. “We selected six for interviews, which we conducted via Zoom. All the finalists were impressive young people, and it was difficult to choose among them.”
“This is always one of the best meetings of the year,” said Rotary president Ginny Morrow. “Awarding scholarships is one of the most important things we do.”
Linnea Johnson of Hardin Valley Academy received the James Schaad Four-year $20,000 Scholarship. Linnea graduated with a 4.55 weighted GPA and had a 34 on the ACT. Johnson does extensive volunteering. She also started her own pet-care business, Mutt Strut when she was 15, and has worked at Dominos Pizza since last summer and was recently promoted to shift lead. She will attend the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, and pursue a career in occupational therapy.
Emma Smoker of Powell High School received the Rotary Foundation of Knoxville Four-Year $20,000 scholarship. She has a 4.33 weighted GPA and a 30 on the ACT. She will attend UT Knoxville in the pre-pharmacy program. She works as a pharmacy aide at CVS-Health. She has been very active in school activities and was awarded for 100+ community service hours.
Macy Vaughn of Alcoa High School received a one-time RFK $5,000 scholarship. She has been accepted to UT Knoxville and plans to pursue a career in nursing.
Forrest Hamilton of Career Magnet Academy received a one-time RFK $5,000 scholarship. He has been accepted at Ferris State University, where he will pursue a career in welding engineering.
Boys & Girls Clubs kids take the Tennessee Theatre stage
Area youth will take the stage of the Official State Theatre of Tennessee on July 29. The Boys & Girls Clubs of the Tennessee Valley will present its first Youth Arts Initiative (YAI) Variety Show, “Follow the Blue Brick Road,” at the Tennessee Theatre on Thursday, July 29, at 6:30 p.m.
The showcase will feature dance, music and theatre performances, as well as a gallery showcase in the lobby with artwork created in YAI visual arts classes. Doors open at 5:30 p.m., and the event is free to the public.
The YAI program provides school-aged children with high-quality visual, applied and performing arts programming so they can engage in hands-on skill development using real tools and technology to support their growth as artists and individuals. For more information and an event calendar, go here.
Wednesday, July 28
Today is the last Kid A’ Riffic Fun in the Park from 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. at World’s Fair Park. This free event includes family activities geared toward children age 2-10. There will be crafts, games and more. For more info go here or call 865-215-4311.