Albertus Magnus College

Pearl River Rotary Hands Out Annual Scholarship Awards

The Pearl River Rotary Club’s Scholarship Foundation presented its annual awards at a ceremony Thursday night at the Pearl River library.

The 20 students who either live in or attend school in Pearl River received awards of $2,000 each.

“I think it’s a great honor,” said Thomas Butterworth, a Pearl River High School senior who is one of the recipients. “The Rotary is a great organization, and it’s a lot of money, so it will definitely help out with school next year.”

Each year the amount of scholarships given out depends on how much money is allocated by the Foundation. The Foundation has one fundraising outing each year, the Ed Bouton Golf Outing, which usually raises between $25,000 and $30,000 for the scholarships. The rest of the allocated money comes from the Foundation’s earnings throughout the year, not from the principle.

Prior to 1989, the Rotary Club would raise $1,000 or $2,000 a year for scholarships, but in that year Rotary Club member Robert Bergman came up with the idea to start a Foundation so that the Rotary could give out more money to deserving students. Another Rotarian, Bouton, then challenged the Foundation to raise $50,000 before the end of the year and said that if it did so he would match that total. The challenge was met, so in a few months the Foundation had $100,000.

 “Anytime that we hold this, and we don’t mention the name Ed Bouton, then it’s invalid, because I believe that it was his vision to challenge the whole club […] and he put his own money on the line,” long-time Rotarian and Past District Governor Jeffrey Keahon said while introducing one of the award recipients.

To this date the foundation has given out around $250,000 in scholarships.

“Every year it seems to get better and better, and it’s a very rewarding experience for all of us in Rotary and outside of Rotary,” Rotary Club of Pearl River President Robert Simon said during the ceremony.

The Rotary Scholarship Awards Committee  decides who gets the awards each year. The students are chosen for the scholarships based on five criteria: academic success, financial need, extracurricular activities, community services, and special circumstances, such as being raised by a single parent or having a disability. Each student is given a certain number of points in each category, with financial need being worth the largest number of points . The students who have the highest score receive the scholarships. Students can re-apply for the scholarships up to three more times, and several of this year’s honorees had previously won one of the awards.

School Spotlight: Albertus Magnus College | More Than a Test Score

Here at Zinch we believe students from all backgrounds have the potential to find the school that’s the perfect fit for them. But with the thousands of universities located across the country, how are you supposed to narrow it down to a select few?

Well, we wanted to give you a hand in the process, so we’re spotlighting some of our favorite universities here on the blog in hopes of making that decision a little less daunting. The first up is Albertus Magnus College , located in New Haven, Connecticut.

Albertus Magnus is a small, private, Catholic liberal arts institution, resting on a beautiful 50-acre, garden-like campus in the distinguished Prospect Hill neighborhood. AMC students can explore over 50 majors, minors, and concentrations in its traditional undergraduate programs. In addition, the institution offers graduate programs including Master of Arts in Art Therapy (MAAT), Master of Arts in Leadership (MLDR), Master of Science in Management (MSM), and Master of Business Administration (MBA).

Academic resources are complemented by state-of-the art athletic facilities, social organizations and recreational opportunities. There are nearly 25 student clubs and organizations part of the Student Government Association and Campus Activities Board, including a multicultural student union, intramural sports, and a dance team. Athletes and fitness enthusiasts will enjoy the Athletic Center, which houses a swimming pool, racquetball, weight and cardio room, and AMC even offers outdoor tennis courts, a running track, and fields for soccer and softball.

If you’re interested in finding out more about Albertus Magnus , head to their Zinch profile. Be sure to click the green “LIKE” button too if you’d like to be put in touch with an admissions counselor. Good luck finding the right school for you, be sure to check back for more spotlighted universities!

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