Five local students are getting help with college from the Rotary Club of West Seattle. Here’s the announcement:

The West Seattle Rotary Club has awarded over $19,000 in scholarships to four local area high school students and one student at Washington State University.

These annually awarded scholarships are funded by two endowed programs (Gambriell and Past Presidents) and one program funded by donations to our annual fundraising campaigns (Student of the Year).

On June 14th, four of the five awardees spoke via Zoom at the Club’s weekly meeting, presenting a bio-sketch of their many school and extracurricular activities, their career goals, what they regard as their most important attributes.

The recipients are:

Yasmeen Aden, Chief Sealth International High School, planning to study psychology at UW, Gambriell and Student of the Year scholarships
Jayden Elenez, West Seattle High School, planning to study aviation at CWU, Gambriell and Student of the Year scholarships
Mevina Ott, West Seattle High School, planning to study the sciences at Stanford, Student of the Year scholarship
Lola Taylor, studying at Washington State University, Gambriell scholarship
Diego Estome-Hedger, studying at South Seattle College and headed for San Diego State, Past Presidents scholarship

Watch for application information for next year’s scholarships here.

An announcement and invitation, from the Rotary Club of West Seattle:

The Rotary Club of West Seattle is excited to “Plant and Dedicate“ three Peace Poles to the following locations in 2022.

West Seattle Eagles Club, 4426 California SW
Fauntleroy Church, UCC, 9140 California SW
The Log House Museum, 3003 61st Ave SW

As background, one of Rotary’s primary areas of focus is the promotion of peace throughout the community and world. Peace Poles symbolize the oneness of humanity and our prominent wish for world peace. There are more than 250,000 Peace Poles globally, including several in West Seattle.

The power of the message “May Peace Prevail On Earth” lies in its capacity to bring people of various cultures, faith, traditions, and political ideals together as one united global heart and mind.

The Rotary Club of West Seattle is interested in learning if there are other Churches, Community Centers, Libraries, City Parks, Restaurants, or Historical Sites in West Seattle that might want to discuss a gift of a Peace Pole.

Please contact: Christine Peak, Rotarian, Christine.peak1@gmail.com

The Rotary Club of West Seattle just welcomed four new members – and is now having “hybrid” weekly meetings, so you can attend in person or online. Here’s an update from the club:

Come Join Us! West Seattle Rotary is now offering a hybrid option for our weekly meetings. We are meeting in person on Tuesdays at the Alki Masonic Hall (4736 40th SW) from 11:45 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. and have a Zoom Link option here to join virtually. Upcoming May programs:

Tuesday, May 3, 12:00 noon

Susan Carroll, Managing Director, Duke-UNC Rotary Peace Center
Celebrating 20 Years of the Duke-UNC Rotary Peace Center

Presentation: As we reach our 20th anniversary as one of the Rotary Peace Fellowship Program’s Centers, now is a good moment to react on how the program and the ‑eld of peacebuilding have changed over these past two decades.

Tuesday, May 10, 12:00 noon

Greg Dirks, Jim and Michelle Edwards, The West Seattle Big Band
Introducing The West Seattle Big Band

Presentation: A community-based 18 piece music ensemble that plays Big Band swing and jazz standards at events throughout the greater Seattle and Puget Sound.

Tuesday, May 17, 12:00 noon

Safo Mawuko Kutorwu, Founder of Denyigba LorLor , Ghana, Africa
“Tree Planting Project” Denyigba LorLor “Forest Regeneration” Donations here

Presentation: A grassroots NGO in West Africa battles hunger and climate change by planting trees along roads, schools and beaches.

Tuesday, May 24, 12:00 noon

Elizabeth Cruft-Anderson, CFRE, Senior Major Gifts Officer
Promoting Peace through Rotary International

Presentation: Rotary’s strength is our ability to join together the right people, united in common goals to create projects in our local communities and around the globe.

We formally inducted our four newest members at our meeting last week. In photo above: Acting Membership Chairman Martha Sidlo, new members Kristy Haro with John L. Scott, Tom Nychay is the owner of Gany Nychay Architecture, Greg Dirks is a long-time West Seattle resident and is retired, and Travis Hartman with State Farm Insurance, and President Alan Mitchell.

Among the pandemic casualties – the Rotary Club of West Seattle‘s Children’s Holiday Shopping Spree (here’s our coverage from 2019), which brought together hundreds of volunteers and dozens of local students for one joyful morning every December. But local Rotarians were undeterred in their mission of helping kids. Today they gathered to get ready for a new way of achieving part of the mission – getting essentials to students in need via “Spring for Kids.”

Rotarian Kjersti Stroup explains, “We purchased new clothing items for 60 elementary school students in West Seattle and are providing those students with new coats, shirts, shorts, shoes, socks, and underwear, as well as a ‘goodie bag’ with fun toys and items.” This morning, club members gathered at Fauntleroy Church for a sorting party.

Next week, volunteers will deliver the bags to four local elementary schools – Highland Park, Lafayette, Roxhill, and West Seattle. And then this holiday season, the Children’s Shopping Spree might make a comeback – too early to say for sure.

College-bound student in the household? The Rotary Club of West Seattle wants to be sure you know about two scholarships, with the application deadline just two weeks away:

The Rotary Club of West Seattle has two different college scholarships that qualified students can apply for now: The Gambriell Scholarship and the Past Presidents’ Scholarship,

The Gambriell Scholarship can be awarded to any student in Seattle, but preference is given to those who reside in West Seattle and those who would not be able to attend college or further their education without the scholarship. Financial need is a major element in awarding the Gambriell Scholarship. Variable amounts are awarded each year, depending on how many students apply.

The Past Presidents’ Scholarship is available to students who are not Rotarians or members of a Rotarian’s immediate family. Awardees must either reside in the West Seattle area or be graduating this year from a West Seattle-area school. This $6,000 scholarship may be used to obtain a 4-year degree or an advanced degree.

Go to our website at westseattlerotary.org/scholarships to apply.

One of West Seattle’s most active service clubs has a new president. Here’s the announcement from the Rotary Club of West Seattle:

In 1947, the Rotary Club of West Seattle began serving the local community. From then to now, community leaders of West Seattle have assembled under the banner of Rotary in an effort to exchange ideas and take action to improve the lives of neighbors in need.

The Rotary Club of West Seattle is pleased to announce the President of the 2021-2022 Rotary year will be Alan Mitchell. When asked about the opportunity to lead the service organization, he had this to say: “After I became ‘rewired’ in 2016 (working in service to others instead of for money), two friends separately said, ‘you should look into your local Rotary club.’ I joined because I found good people working together cooperatively in service to others at the local and international levels while having fun. I saw that they are people from a wide span of ages, from those in their 30s starting up families and careers, to others who are also retired. That’s the kind of club I want to be a part of and contribute significantly to for programs that help neighbors locally and around the world.

“Preceding me was Dawn Schaper, Executive Director at Brookdale Admiral Heights, a senior living community. She left extremely big shoes to fill, but with the help of our club’s leadership, I’m confident that we will together be able to address the needs of the very important causes our club supports.”

The Rotary Club of West Seattle is accepting new members. Click here if interested in joining a Club meeting to learn more.

Our area has several active service organizations, and one of them is inviting you to visit next week, either in-person or online. Here’s the announcement from the Rotary Club of West Seattle:

Rotary Club of West Seattle — Visitors Day
June 22, 2021
11:30 – 1:00 p.m.

The Object of Rotary is to encourage and foster the ideal of service as a basis of worthy enterprise. One of the guiding principles is the Four-Way Test, which is a nonpartisan and nonsectarian ethical guide, or set of values, Rotarians use for their personal and professional relationships. The test has been translated into more than 100 languages, and often Rotarians recite it at club meetings.

Of the things, we think, say or do:

Is it the TRUTH?
Is it FAIR to all concerned?
Will it build GOODWILL and BETTER FRIENDSHIPS?
Will it be BENEFICIAL to all concerned?

The interesting thing about Rotary is that the local clubs govern how to run their club. Each club has a different focus. But one thing they all have in common is that they are a leadership organization, made up of local business, professional and civic leaders. They meet regularly, get to know each other, and through that, are able to get things done in their own community. Watch this myth buster video to help you understand the role of Rotary in your community.

The Rotary Club of West Seattle invites you to Visitors Day on Tuesday, June 22nd at the Alki Masonic Hall (4736 40th Ave SW) from 11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. Come and learn what Rotary is all about and how becoming a member can benefit both your business and personal life. Coffee, tea, and refreshments will be served. If you are vaccinated, join us in person! Otherwise, use this Zoom link here to join us online.

Got someone in your household who could use more money for college? Next Thursday is the deadline to apply for two scholarships offered by the Rotary Club of West Seattle. We announced the first one last month – a $6,000 scholarship from the West Seattle Rotary Past Presidents’ Scholarship Fund. In addition to that, the Rotary is continuing to accept applications for this:

The Gambriell Scholarship is another offering that can be awarded to any student in Seattle, but preference is given to those who reside in West Seattle and those who would not be able to attend college or further their education without the scholarship. Variable amounts are awarded each year, depending on how many students apply. The Gambriell award is for one year and is annually renewable. Recipient(s) must re-apply for consideration each year before the stated deadlines.

The Rotary will accept applications for both through Thursday (April 15th) – applications are available here (though the Gambriell deadline is listed there as April 1st, the club has extended that two weeks).

From the WSB inbox:

Announcing the West Seattle Rotary Past Presidents’ Scholarship Fund – a brand-new $6,000 scholarship was developed to support an individual’s post-high school education. This scholarship fund is the largest yet of the scholarships provided through the Rotary Club of West Seattle and has the most flexibility for applicants to qualify for funding.

The West Seattle Rotary Past Presidents Fund began many decades ago when a gift of $25,000 was donated by a local doctor as the start to the fund. The Past Presidents added to the fund throughout the years through special fundraisers and memorial gifts to a point where the proceeds have been donated to causes that support children in West Seattle.

What makes this new scholarship flexible is that there are four categories a person can fall under to be able to apply for the $6,000 scholarship:

• You are a graduating senior from a high school in the West Seattle area who wishes to earn a 4-year degree.

• You live in the West Seattle area and are graduating from a high school outside of the West Seattle area and wish to earn a 4-year degree.

• You live in the West Seattle area and are transferring from a 2-year program to a 4-year college/university seeking a bachelor’s degree.

• You live in the West Seattle area and have recently earned a bachelor’s degree and wish to work toward a higher degree.

Note: West Seattle area encompasses West Seattle as well as neighborhoods to the south that have not been included in the application qualification in the past. [Examples: White Center, South Park]. Also: Rotarians or a member of a Rotarian’s immediate family are not eligible for this scholarship.

Apply for the scholarship here: westseattlerotary.org

Deadline: April 15, 2021

Visibility might be low, but spirits were high this morning as Rotary Club of West Seattle members did volunteer yard work in Gatewood this morning. They’re helping out local seniors, with another event planned tomorrow morning in Westwood. The project started four years ago.

From the Rotary Club of West Seattle:

Another Rotary Year Passes:

The West Seattle Rotary just had its New Year’s (July 1) change of Leadership. We would like to welcome our new President Dawn Schaper, who is also the Executive Director of Brookdale Admiral Heights.

This has been a busy year for outgoing President Dave Nichols; with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, he took the weekly club meetings online in Zoom. As a club, we raised and donated almost $10,000 to three of our local nonprofits – West Seattle Food Bank, Senior Center of West Seattle, and WestSide Baby, who are supporting our community in this time of need. If you would like to help us, you may donate here.

One of the annual events presented by the Rotary, the West Seattle Grand Parade, is among the summer events that have to skip this year.

One of the ways in which the Rotary Club of West Seattle serves the community is by offering college-scholarship money. It’s application time for one of their programs – here’s the announcement:

Scholarship opportunity – The Rotary Club of West Seattle Service Foundation offers the Vern Gambriell Scholarship, an annual award totaling about $6,000, to one or more students in order to make it possible for students to pursue a post-secondary educational program at an accredited institution.

The specific desire of this West Seattle donor (Vern Gambriell) is that assistance is provided to students who would not otherwise be able to attend college and that preference will be given to residents of West Seattle. Therefore, this scholarship is awarded based on financial need and academic merit. Funds may be used for tuition and fees and is sent directly from the Scholarship Fund to the school once the information from the student is provided.

Application Deadline – May 17. Click here for more information.