INDIANAPOLIS — The Kiwanis (Downtown) Club of Indianapolis honored 25 area high school seniors who have overcome significant obstacles in their lives and presented $41,000 in scholarships to four candidates at its 39th annual Abe Lincoln Scholarship Awards banquet.
The four scholarship recipients are:
• First-place recipient – Holly Cox, Beech Grove High School
• Second-place recipient – Katerina Myers, Heritage Christian High School
• Third-place recipient – Jesus Kevin Morales, Indiana School for the Blind & Visually Impaired
• Fourth-place recipient – Jack VanSchaik, Arsenal Technical High School
Circle of Valor awards were presented to the 25 candidates, each representing an area high school. Candidates were nominated by their high schools for the scholarships because of their achievements in the face of daunting obstacles, from disease and disability to dire family environments.
Steve Willem, chairman of the Abe Lincoln Scholarship Awards committee served as master of ceremonies of the awards program. The following Kiwanians presented the four scholarship award recipients: Peter Bisbecos, Kathleen Lee, Wende Padek, and John Reddington.
Anne Ryder, television journalist and Emmy Award winner, served as guest interviewer.
Also participating were three former recipients of the Abe Lincoln Scholarship Awards: Jaimie C. Robbins, 2013 Scholar and graduate of Southport High School, Magdalena Josipovic, 2000 Scholar and graduate of Speedway High School, and Frank Epperson, 1985 Scholar and graduate of Perry Meridian High School.
“Our scholarships are not ‘need’ scholarships,” explained Steve Willem, chairman of the Abe Lincoln Scholarship Awards committee. “They are ’recognition’ scholarships. We honored and recognized these 25 students who have proven, despite overwhelming personal difficulties, that they can and will succeed.”
For more information on the Downtown Kiwanis Club, see www.indykiwanis.org.
