For thirty years the Montgomery/Rocky Hill Rotary Club has given scholarships to students who exemplify the Rotary motto of Service Above Self. This year's recipients are:
THE HARRY FENTON MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP: Jessie DiMeglio
Jessie dedicates much of her time to her church and service immersion trips. She has been a youth ministry leader throughout her high school years and has traveled to New Mexico and West Virginia working with Habitat for Humanity and at working at a shelter. She was a Varsity soccer player at MHS freshman through junior years. Jessie volunteers monthly with residents at Acorn Glen in Princeton. Her other interests include photography, reading and music. You may have seen her working at one of several local restaurants, most recently the new World Pizza and Café. This fall Jessie will be attending LaSalle University with a career goal in photojournalism.
THE ANDY MALEK MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP: Gracious Anithanam
In his last 2 years at MHS, Gracious has spent over 750 hours volunteering at the Montgomery EMS, responding to emergency calls day and night. He is now the senior cadet leader at the squad. He co-founded a group called ‘Raising Hope’, a non-profit, assisting children in India. Additional club involvement includes Model UN as a delegate, and head of marketing in the Young Entrepreneurs of NJ. As an athlete, Gracious is captain of the Cross Country and Fencing Varsity Teams, and a JV member of the MHS Golf team. This fall, Gracious will be attending the University of the Sciences in Philadelphia, enrolled in a 7-year BS/DO medical program.
THE YUMI SHIBITANI MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP: Arnav Rai
Arnav has had a busy high school career. His club membership list reads as follow: Model UN, Youth and Government, Academic League, and National Honor Society. As a Boy Scout member for over 10 years, he earned his eagle Scout Award with a project at the Montgomery EMS building, renovating and redesigning a storage space for easier access to supplies and equipment. Arnav has spent countless hours volunteering at the children’s specialized hospital in New Brunswick, as well as traveling to Capetown in South Africa to assist the Kings Smile Project delivering lunches to and tutoring students. This fall Arnav will be attending the University of Michigan, majoring in Public health and Molecular Biology
ROTARY SCHOLARSHIP: Dara McNally
Becoming the MHS marching band drum major is no easy feat. It involves applications, interviews, and auditions. And lots of responsibilities. Having played the euphonium and becoming a section leader, Dara was ready for the challenge. As a member of the stage crew since freshman year, Dara helped to build sets and props along with working backstage during performances. Volunteering, she attended a trip to Mobile Mission 4Haiti, distributing medicine and assisting doctors and nurses to aid people in remote areas of Haiti. Dara also spends time each month at SAVE, working with pets in their preparation for adoption. In her spare time, she works at the Bagel Barn and Deli near Rocky Hill. This fall she will be attending the University of Delaware, majoring in Marine Sciences and Biology.
ROTARY SCHOLARSHIP: Sophia Russo
Sophia has been a Girl Scout for over 10 years, volunteering and assisting with the Drumthwacket Easter Egg Hunt and at the Carrier Clinic Walk of Hope. As part of the MHS stage crew as a costume assistant, she helps to keep the actors properly organized, suited and attired. Art is a very important interest of Sophia’s. She has participated in the Art Center of NJ, PRINCETON Arts Council, as well as several University run design and studio camps. As president of her 4H group, the Anime Club, she prepares and runs the meetings leading up to the annual Somerset County fair in August, and their club’s annual convention and fundraiser. In the fall, Sophia will be attending Savannah College of Art and Design and will major in graphic design.
ROTARY SCHOLARSHIP: Ananya Sankar
Writing and journalism are of great interest to Ananya. She is an editor of the school’s newspaper, the pawprint, and is student editor at the Montgomery news, in charge of writing an athlete of the month profile. With an interest in dance, she has trained 10 years as a classical South Indian Dancer, and is captain of MHS’s Bollywood dance team. Ananya is an officer of the YMCA Model UN, which has honed her critical thinking and public speaking skills. She is also the captain of the MHS Girls Cross Country Team. She will be attending Northeastern University this fall, with a double major in journalism and political science.
ROTARY SCHOLARSHIP: Rithika Athreya
Rithika is a Peer Leader, a board member and president of the GirlUp NJ Coalition, Captain of the MHS Color Guard, a member of the National Honor Society, member and Captain of the MHS Robotics team, and an active member and board officer of the Montgomery Interact Club. She was selected for and attended the 2018 Rotary Youth Leadership Award(RYLA) convention at Drew University last spring. As a varsity member of the MHS marching band, and Rithika was honored in receiving the Outstanding leadership Award for her efforts in the Color Guard program. This fall she will be attending Perdue University majoring in Chemical Engineering and Computer Science.
ROTARY SCHOLARSHIP: Sarah Florentine
Sarah has a long list of activities and interests. She is a junior firefighter for the past 2 years with the Blawenburg Fire Company(#2), waitressing at the Sahara Restaurant, and volunteers at SAVE, our local animal rescue/adoption center. She is Chief Executive of the Montgomery Docents-volunteering at Rockingham, George Washington’s Headquarters during the American Revolution, and a member of Montgomery players, acting in their productions. Sarah is a Peer leader, serving as a role model for freshman and middle school students, and is president of the MHS Gay-Straight Alliance. In addition, she is the captain and a varsity member of the MHS Fencing team. In the fall, Sarah will be attending Rutgers University studying Animal Science on a Pre-Veterinary track.