Scholarship Night

We spend about three hours at the high school tonight for "scholarship night".  Every year the high school gives out thousands of dollars in scholarships to the graduating seniors who are going on to higher education, be it in college or tech schools.  Additionally, there are lots of other scholarship presentations from other sources announced or given out, such as formal athletic scholarships, or other community based group scholarships. 

In January, I think, the seniors got a list of all the available community based ones, and they have the opportunity to apply for them.  Sarah applied for a bunch, and she got one, the Riverside alumni scholarship.  That was the one I was really hoping she would get.  We did a lot to volunteer at Riverside when Sarah was there and I am so happy that her teachers and other former administrators thought enough of her to award her their scholarship.  She also got a general award from the HS Scholarship foundation (or whatever the official name of the group that fundraises for scholarships is called).  They have fundraisers throughout the year, such as a silent auction, and a couple others where they raise money to give the seniors.  I think pretty much any student that does the applications ends up getting at least one award.

There was one other scholarship we were hoping that Sarah would get.  But she lost out to another girl.  And I must say, I wasn't happy when I found out who did get it.  This girl is just mean, and thinks she is head and shoulders above everyone else.  It's one thing to be smart and perform well, it's another to be totally conceited about it.

I should also add that Sarah Got to help out Kris's friend, who gives out scholarship every year.  Her son was a graduate of the Falls HS, and worked in TV production.  He had epilepsy and unfortunately passed away a few years ago as a result of a seizure.  He actually taught Sarah's religion class one year at St. Anthony.  They set up a small scholarship in his name to someone who was going to go into the film/TV/entertainment industry, and since her husband had another commitment and couldn't make it to the presentation, she asked Sarah if she would present it with her.  I think she was very honored to be up there and be able to do it.  I can't imagine how hard it would be to do that every year.  There was also a family who gave out a memorial scholarship who's son would have been a senior and graduated with the class of 2016.  While it would have been hard to give out a memorial scholarship I think it would have been especially hard if you knew your child should have been on the stage with the rest of the students.  I don't know how those parents got thru it.

All in all it was a pretty good night.  And we are actually waiting on another scholarship that she applied for thru our credit union.  Kris and I are hoping that we'll get good news on that scholarship soon.