2016 Scholarship Recipients

2016 Rotary Scholarship Recipients: Nicole Ochieng, Gabrielle Johnson, Kayla Flaute and Claire Bebbington with President Brad Thorp. Missing from the photo: Casey Swoboda and Kaarthika Thakker. 

 

Claire Bebbington is a scholar athlete who represented Centerville High School as a member of the National Honor Society and as a player on their soccer team. Her service projects included Lunch Buddies, Elks Connector and SICSA.  Her personal references cite her leadership, dependability and humanity, all three of which were recognized by the committee during her interview. Claire will attend The Ohio State University to major in environmental engineering and hopes to find new ways to eliminate the world’s water crisis. Out of Poverty: What Works When Traditional Approaches Fail by Paul Polak is the book selected for Claire. It was suggested by Design Outreach’s Greg Bixler when I ask him for a recommendation.

 

Kayla Flaute is a Centerville High School graduate who will attend the University of Dayton to study early childhood education. Her scholastic activities included Centerville Scholars Award, National Honor Society and the French National Honors Society. She served as an Elk Connector and Chem Buddy in additional to helping young children learn how to play volleyball. Kayla has been employed as a hostess at The Chop House for the past two years. Her references detail her determination and tenacity as well as her generosity and kind manner. One person wrote, ‘Kayla is a positive influence on others in so many ways. The threads that runs through all of them involves care of and for others.’ Kayla is receiving the book, Letters to a Young Teacher by Jonathan Kozol.

 

Gabrielle Johnson wrote in her application essay that ‘it is her dream to invent something that changes the world for the better.’  Her plan is to attend the Brigham Young University and major in mechanical engineering with a minor in Mandarin Chinese. At Centerville High School, Gabrielle participated in Centerville Jazz Band Color Guard, Engineering Club and Concert Choir as well as being recognized as a National Merit Scholar. Her family moved to SE OH from the south and one of her major community service activities reflects her passion for the Mississippi Delta area. She worked in Gulf Coast cleanup after major storms and raised money to build a playground in Waveland, Mississippi. Locally, she helped generate donations for the local food bank and the Feed OH campaign.  Because of her interest in mechanical engineering and relocation to Montgomery County, the committee selected The Wright Brothers by David McCullough for Gabrielle.

 

Nicole Ochieng is a Centerville High School graduate who will attend Baylor University to major in pre-medical biology with the goal of becoming a medical doctor and opening a medical clinic in Kenya, her mother’s home country. In high school, she was a member of the Spanish Honor Society, the Biotechnology program, and the track and field squad. Her references note Nicole’s ability to maintain a rigorous high school course load, working part-time at Wendy’s Restaurant, offering her services as a volunteer and achieving a respectable academic standing.  Her community service work included mentoring young math students and incoming high school freshman and helping at blood drives.  Mountains Beyond Mountains: the quest of Dr. Paul Farmer, a man who would cure the world by Tracy Kidder was the book selected for Nicole by the committee.

 

Casey Swoboda is also a Centerville High School graduate and as most of you know was Co-President of the Interact Club. His additional activities at the high school include National Honor Society, German Club, Environmental Club and Hiking Club all of which put him in the committee’s scholarship winner circle.  Casey’s references cite his tenacity, good nature and ‘service above self’ style of leadership.  He is a rock climber and life guard. Casey will attend the University of Cincinnati to major in organizational leadership. Casey is receiving the book High Altitude Leadership by Chris Warner.

 

Kaarthika Thakker is also a Centerville High School graduate and also holds the title of Interact Co-President. Her academic awards coupled with her other numerous projects include National Merit Finalist, tutor, Physics Friend and business entrepreneur.  Kaarthika’s references call her ‘intuitively brilliant, dependable and passionate.’ She will attend Rice University to study economics, poverty and justice with plans to pursue a Master’s degree in public health. Evicted: Poverty and Profit in the American City by Matthew Desmond is the title selected for Kaarthika by the committee.