For the Reporter<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/p>\n The Kent Rotary Club honored top graduating seniors from the Kent School District at its annual scholar recognition event at Green River College on May 12.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n Students graduating in the top 5 percent of their class were invited along with their families. A total of 85 students from Kentlake, Kent-Meridian, Kentridge, Kentwood, Kent Phoenix Academy, Kent Mountainview Academy and the iGrad program were honored.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n Dawn Colston, Kent Rotary Club president, emceed. Dr. Tony Apostle, interim superintendent of the school district, provided an inspirational opening address. Student leaders spoke on the topic of academic success. The principals of each school recognized their top graduating seniors.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n Student speakers were: Emily Okawara, Kentridge; Timary Mathena, Kentlake; April Rose Nguyen, Kent-Meridian; David Mageo, Kent Mountainview Academy; McKenna Johnson, Kentwood; and Samantha Burchard, Kent Phoenix Academy.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n Rotary Club academic scholarships were $1,950 each and derived from proceeds from the annual Kent Rotary Escapades Auction held annually at the ShoWare Center.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n The 10 scholarships, totaling $19,500, were awarded to:<\/p>\n<\/p>\n Kelly Le (Kentwood, who is attending the University of Washington); Truman-Hieu Ngo (Kentwood, UW); Thanh Truong (Kentlake, UW); Timary Mathena (Kentlake, Whitworth); Jessica Lam (Kentridge, UW); Kenneth Darcy (Kentridge, University of Virginia); Salam Ramadan (Kent-Meridian, Seattle University); Chianson Siu (Kent-Meridian, UW); Maryanna Peterson (Kent Mountainview Academy, Seattle Pacific University); and Samantha Burchard (Kent Phoenix Acadmey, University of New Hampshire).<\/p>\n<\/p>\n Vocational scholarships<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/p>\n Kent Rotary presented its vocational scholarships to students from Kent’s Career and Technical Education Program, which focuses on career preparation, such as community and technical college two-year programs, trades and apprenticeship training, and specialized skill-based training programs.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n Kent Rotary hopes these students bring their skills and experience back to the region and become contributing members of the community.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n The nine recipients of the $1,500 vocational scholarships were:<\/p>\n<\/p>\n Ahmed Al-Rajab, Kentridge (attending Bellevue College to study graphic design); Malaika Altera, Kentlake (Green River College, nursing); Tony Dorsey, Kent-Meridian, Olympic College, criminal justice); Brook Fuhlendorf (Kentridge, Highline College, nursing); Jayson Gambill (Kentridge, South Seattle College, baking); Jhakon Pappoe, Kentwood (Green River College, physical therapy assistant); Giovanna Staiano, Kentlake (Renton Tech, nursing); Alex Vovk (Kentridge, Renton Tech, computer networking); and Nathan Wick (Kentridge, Renton Tech, industrial engineering).<\/p>\n<\/p>\n About Rotary<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/p>\n Rotary brings together a global network of volunteer leaders dedicated to tackling the world’s most pressing humanitarian challenges. Rotary connects 1.2 million members of more than 34,000 Rotary clubs in more than 200 countries and geographical areas. Their work impacts lives at both the local and international levels, from helping families in need in their own communities to working toward a polio-free world.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n