Courtesy photo Scholarship recipients Kyra Beck, Gabe Smith, Jenna Rubbick, Jacob Strasler, and Mark Maeder are shown.

ESCANABA — More than 60 Escanaba Rotarians, friends, scholarship winners and their families enjoyed dinner, and fellowship, and heard remarks about the Rotary Youth Exchange program from a visiting Rotarian at the Freshwater Tavern at the Terrace recently.

Three recent Escanaba High School graduates, one from Rapid River and another from Gladstone were presented college scholarships, and an Escanaba graduate from 2018 had a scholarship renewed. The new scholarship winners are:

Kyra Beck, Escanaba, will study music education beginning at Bay College in the fall. She is a member of the National Honor Society (NHS). She has participated in numerous arts organizations, the student council and was a Key Club board member.

Renee Perrault, Escanaba, plans to major in biochemistry at Central Michigan University. She is also a member of the NHS, participated in varsity tennis and golf, Key Club and school musicals.

Gabe Smith, Escanaba, plans to major in biology/pre-medicine at St. Norbert’s College in De Pere. Smith is the recipient of the 2nd annual Leon E. Kinaisewicz MD, Escanaba Rotary Trust Scholarship. He was also a member of the NHS, Key Club and lettered in basketball and track as an Eskymo.

Jenna Rubbick, Rapid River intends to study engineering management at Michigan Technological University. She is also an NHS member, received letters in four varsity sports and participated in Key Club and has played piano for 12 years.

Jacob Strasler, Gladstone will attend the Milwaukee School of Engineering to study computer engineering. Like the others, he was an NHS member and Key Clubber. He was also all-state in cross country and track.

In addition, Mark Maeder, a 2018 Escanaba graduate, who received the inaugural Kinasiewicz scholarship attended and talked to the Club about his first year experiences. The Kinasiewicz scholarship is renewed annually for four years as long as the student remains in good standing and continues to pursue a degree in a medical field. Maeder attends Bay with intent to transfer to Central Michigan University.

The students each addressed the gathering on the Rotary theme of “service above self.” One student said she was able to raise $500 to help flood victims in the Keweenaw last year, while another’s club was recognized as the best in the Midwest.

Ellen Weingarten, the student exchange officer from the Marquette Breakfast Rotary Club addressed the club about the complexities of the Youth Exchange Program, in-bound and out-bound students, and what students and families need to do to prepare and participate. The Escanaba Club had not participated in this activity for several years.

Students Vanessa LaPalm of Escanaba and Marlene Deloria of Gladstone were introduced. LaPalm will live with an Italian family for a month and Deloria a German family. Each will then have counterparts from Italy and Germany visit Escanaba.

New club members Jessica Bray of Upper Michigan Law and Melissa Bonifas-Ness of Meemic Insurance were introduced and inducted into the club. Rena Richtig the outgoing club president closed the evening by passing the gavel to incoming president Jenine Maloney