Weirton Rotary Club awards scholarships to local graduates

WEIRTON - Members of the Weirton Rotary Club honored four recent high school graduates for their accomplishments, while giving them some additional support as they head into their college career.

Each year the club selects four graduates - one each from Weir, Madonna, Brooke, and Oak Glen high schools - to receive a $1,500 scholarship.

"Today, we give out our scholarship award," scholarship committee Co-chair Doug Finton announced during the club’s meeting Wednesday at Undo’s. "It’s a big deal for our club. We give out $6,000 each year."

This year’s scholarship recipients are Rylee Birkhimer, a graduate from Weirton Madonna High School; Jaime Dennis of Brooke High School; Gavin Geisse from Oak Glen High School; and Lorenzo Liberto of Weir High School.

"We’re very proud to have you all here," Finton said.

Birkhimer thanked the club for selecting her to be one of the scholarship recipients.

"It’s very much appreciated," she said, noting her plans to attend West Liberty University and participate in track while majoring in elementary education.

Dennis said her plans include studying cyber security while attending Bethany College.

While in high school, she was active in Future Business Leaders of America, Key Club, and is a completer in the school’s computer science program.

"I was in drones and robotics for a while," she said, explaining the competitive nature of the activity.

Geisse will attend West Virginia University to study economics before going to graduate school.

"I plan to go to law school once I’m done with my undergrad," he said.

Geisse said he was not expecting to receive the scholarship, noting he found out on the day of his graduation party.

Liberto, meanwhile, will attend Fairmont State University, where he will study aviation. He said he is grateful to receive the Rotary scholarship.

"It was one I was really hoping for," he said.

Scholarship committee Co-chair Steve Kladakis, who has been involved in selecting scholarship recipients for the club for 37 years, explained the fund used for the award has been the beneficiary of many of the club’s fundraisers over the years, and now can stand on its own.

"It’s self-funding now," Kladakis said, noting the club’s scholarship fund has been built up financially to the point the yearly scholarship awards are derived from the interest payments.

(Howell can be contacted at chowell@weirtondailytimes.com)