Photography of scholarship recipients

Long Neck Sunrise Rotary Club Awards $4,000 in Scholarships to Four Graduating High School Seniors

(Millsboro) (April 28, 2020) — This year’s high school graduating class of 2020 are experiencing a reality that no one could have predicted just a few short months ago. Yet, the fact remains that their senior year will be remembered for far different reasons than most remember. For four graduating seniors, they have something to rejoice – a $1000 Service Above Self Scholarship award from the Long Neck Sunrise Rotary Club.

Last year the Long Neck Sunrise Rotary Club began the Service Above Self Scholarship to award a $1000 scholarship to the Indian River and Sussex Central high school graduates demonstrating the combination of a solid academic record, financial need and a strong resume of community service. Those students who were members of the Rotary’s Interact / Enviro-Act clubs would also be given preferential consideration all other elements being equal. This year the Club has awarded $1000 scholarships to Sussex Central seniors Christopher Lombardi and Emma Evan and $1000 scholarships to Indian River seniors Maddison Olley and Kaila McCabe. Their scholarships can be sent to the college they will be attending for tuition costs or used to defray expenses the student might incur for computers and books.

“We had such a difficult time making our selection,” remarks Judy Hall, Long Neck Sunrise Rotarian managing the application and award process. “We had seven candidates from Indian River and four from Sussex Central, all of whom exhibited outstanding characteristics. We are very happy to be able to help these students pursue their dream.”

The Long Neck Sunrise Rotary Club is currently meeting virtually and three club members worked with blinded applications and a ranking system to reach a decision. Students were notified within the past two weeks of the decision.

Award winner Christopher Lombardi was captain of the football team at Sussex Central and volunteered for Delaware Autism. He plans to attend Salisbury University with becoming a state police officer or a fish and wildlife officer.  Sussex Central Student Athlete Emma Evan plans to attend Clemson University in the fall where she will major in psychology and accounting with a goal of becoming a criminal psychologist with the FBI. In addition to her participating in track and cross country, Emma is an Altar Server and Lector at St. Ann’s Church, serves on the Sussex County Philanthropy Board, and works with Athletes Serving Athletes and Best Buddies among other activities.

Indian River graduating senior Maddison Olley is a member of the Enviro-Act Club  and will attend The University of Tampa Honors Program or The University of Maryland where she will study neuroscience with the ultimate goal of becoming a physician with the specialty of pediatric neurology. Maddison has been a varsity cheerleader,  member of the concert / marching band, participated in Academic Challenge among other school endeavors in addition to volunteering with several organizations and activities including The Night to Shine and the Annual Toy/Food Bank Christmas Drive.  Kaila McCabe is also a member of the Enviro-Act club at Indian River High School, and plans to attend the University of Pittsburgh or the University of Delaware with the goal of becoming a physician’s assistant in emergency medicine. A member of the swim team and cheerleading squad captain, Kaila also includes volunteer work with the children’s ministry at High Tide Church, being a Buddy at the Night to Shine Special Needs Dance and a volunteer assistant cheer coach at Shore Pride All-stars among her many activities.