Rotary Presents $95K in Scholarships to College-Bound Westfield Students

Westfield Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Margaret Dolan and Westfield High School principal Peter Renwick were honored guests Tuesday as the Westfield Rotary Club Foundation presented 22 local college-bound students with scholarships totaling $95,500 at the organization’s annual Scholarship Awards Luncheon at the Westfield Area YMCA. 

Liz Ensslin, chairman of the foundation’s scholarship committee, presided over the scholarship presentations in collaboration with the selection committee comprised of Rotarians Mary Ellen O’Boyle, Jason Astel, Margaret Subhas, Philip Richardson and Dr. Elaine Swingle.  Criteria for consideration, according to Ensslin, are based on academic achievement, service to the community and financial need.  Recipients must be Westfield residents who are graduating seniors enrolled in an accredited high school.

Sherry Cronin, who chairs the Rotary foundation board, said more than $2.6 million has been awarded to Westfield scholars since the club’s inception of the scholarship fund in 1923. 

“Rotary’s group of scholarships are financed by proceeds from the club’s yearly pancake breakfast, Grand Raffle and a managed fund comprised of donations and bequests by Rotarians, their families and friends.," Cronin explained. "The club foundation’s scholarship committee also administers several scholarships on behalf of the community-based Westfield Foundation.”

One scholarship for $10,000, given in memory of Rotarian Robert and Winifred Read for a graduate student studying law, was presented to Christina Obiajulu, who is enrolled at Colombia University Law School.   

Two $15,000 scholarships to be spread out over four years were awarded in memory of Charles and Florence Wallace and went to Rutgers University-bound Courtney Han and to Joseph Obiajulu, who will attend Princeton University.  A $10,000 scholarship also to be paid out over four years and honoring Westfield Rotarians living and deceased was given to Sonya Khedr, who plans to attend High Point University. 

Other winners were as follows: