Deerfield Park Foundation hands out scholarships
The Deerfield Park Foundation has announced the recipients of its 2015-16 Linda Gryziecki College/Post-Secondary Scholarships.
Two, $1,000 scholarships were available this year, one for a graduating high school senior and one for a current college student in their first, second or third year. Jamie Clarke from Deerfield High School won in the high school senior category and Emily Hansen won in the college-age group.
Jamie Clarke's goal is to become a neurosurgeon or medical researcher in the fields of neuroscience, neuropsychology or stem cell treatments and initiate studies and research methods to make health care and medical treatments more effective, efficient and widely available for people who suffer from a range of diseases and conditions.
Jamie has worked as a Deerfield Park District After School Care Supervisor and as a Camp Counselor at the Deerfield Park District's summer camps.
Over the years, Jamie has learned that "in order to truly find happiness and fulfillment in your life you need to be able to forget about yourself and do things for the sake of making another person smile."
Emily Hansen has worked with Deerfield Park District for the past four years. She has held various positions throughout her tenure, including lifeguard and swim instructor, and has worked at the Sachs Recreation Center.
In addition, she volunteers for Deerfield Park District events. This fall, Hansen will enter her sophomore year at Carroll University in Waukesha, Wisconsin, studying to become a special-education teacher. Her goal is for her future career to involve teaching children with learning disabilities and incorporate her knowledge of the Spanish language.
She knows that her future career will be challenging, but has "the heart and commitment to succeed."
The awards will be presented in a ceremony at the Deerfield Park Foundation's board meeting at 7 p.m. Monday, July 20, Jewett Park Community Center, Deerfield.
The recipients are invited to bring family and friends to the presentation, which will be led by Linda Gryziecki. The Deerfield Park Board of Commissioners was instrumental in bringing these scholarships to fruition.
The scholarship is named after Linda Gryziecki, who retired as Deerfield Park District's executive director in 2011 after serving the district for 38 years. The scholarship was started in 2012 with a single category of high school graduates and college students alike competing for the $1,000 scholarship.
Now, two $1,000 scholarships are offered, one at the high school level and one at the college level.
Selections are based on a combination of criteria, including work and/or volunteer experience, community service, a minimum of a 3.0 out of 4.0 cumulative grade-point average, application form submission with essay and letters of recommendation, and, for semifinalists, an interview with a committee of Deerfield Park Foundation directors.
This year, Scholarship Committee Chair Chris Goodsnyder, along with foundation board members Dan Appelbaum, Dan Leuthner and John Mann, served on the committee.
The Linda Gryziecki Scholarship is administered through the Deerfield Park Foundation, the fundraising arm of the Deerfield Park District, supporting programs and services, including: Grants-In-Aid for residents in serious financial need to attend Deerfield Park District programs; projects such as Deerfield's ThorGuard Lightning Predication System, recycling containers for parks and park/school locations; the Linda Gryziecki College Scholarships and more.
Next year's application process is expected to begin in March. To contribute to the Linda Gryziecki Scholarship, or for more information about the Deerfield Park Foundation, visit www.deerfieldparkfoundation.org, email info@dfpd or call (847) 572-2611.