Two $1,500 Scholarships Awarded by Arlington Heights Garden Club

Each year the Arlington Heights Garden Club awards one or more $1,500 academic scholarship to assist local students. Twelve applications were received for this year's scholarship from students living in Arlington Heights and adjoining communities. The AHGC Scholarship Committee has proudly awarded $1,500 scholarships to two students for the 2017-18 school year, Matthew Hoffman from Wheeling and Ashley Roscoe from Arlington Heights.

Matthew Hoffman had an early interest in gardening, planting his own vegetable garden. His gardening interest developed into a curiosity of chemistry, leading him to enter a chemistry competition. After his junior year at Wheeling High School he enrolled in a biotechnology summer program at the University of Chicago, which ignited his academic interest in this area. During his senior year he enrolled in a science research program at the Chicago Botanic Garden. Here he originated an outstanding project of using the bioenergy crop of purple moor grass as a potential energy source. He received a gold medal for his project.

Hoffman graduated from Wheeling High School where he earned a 5.47/5.0 GPA. He plans to major in biological and agricultural engineering at Texas A&M.

Ashley Roscoe had an interest in nature and camping while growing up. She followed these throughout her high school years by being actively involved in service oriented programs, an intern at Brookfield Zoo, and a member of the Prospect Heights Police Department Peer Jury Program, all while working two jobs. She has been a leader in the DECA Business Club, the Fishing Club, Service over Self, and a Veteran's Initiative Student Leader. Roscoe showed her interest in working with animals by participating in the King Conservation Science Scholar Program and also took care of Toby, the Hersey High School therapy dog.

Roscoe graduated from Hersey High School with a 3.7/4.0 GPA. She will be attending the University of Wisconsin at Whitewater majoring in Biology. Her goal is to become a Fish and Wildlife officer.

The Arlington Heights Garden Club has awarded 25 academic scholarships to outstanding students since 2003. Proceeds from the annual Garden Walk are used to fund this scholarship program. The Garden Club meets on the fourth Monday of the month, from September to May, at 7 p.m. in the Arlington Heights Village Hall.

For information on the club and the scholarship program visit the club's website: www.ahgardenclub.com.