Holmstad Residents Award College Scholarships
The retirees who live at The Holmstad in Batavia are looking to the future—and investing in it. The residents recently awarded $6,650 in scholarships to graduating high school seniors who work in dining services at the retirement community.
The largest award for $2,000 went to Johanna Krusbrink, a straight A student and valedictorian of her class of 460 at Batavia High School. Krusbrink plans to study international relations and French at the University of Illinois, Urbana.
Four students received $1,000 each. Two winners from Batavia High School are Lucas Doenges, who plans to begin his law enforcement studies at Wabaunsee Junior College then go on to Western Illinois University, Macomb; and Adam Duplack, who will study graphic design at Northern Illinois University, DeKalb. Winners from Geneva High School are Emily Dipasquantonio, who will study nursing at the University of Missouri, Columbia; and Rebecca Weston, who plans to pursue pharmacy at Butler University, Indianapolis, Indiana.
In addition to the scholarships, Holmstad residents gave each of the 13 graduating seniors who worked in dining services $50.
Holmstad Scholarship & Awards Committee Chair Shirley Gustafson says the awards are an investment in the future and recognition of what the students have already accomplished. “We love having the students work in our dining rooms,” says Gustafson. “They are so exuberant and friendly. It's fun having them around, and this is a way we can do something for them in return for the joy they bring to us.”
To select the winners, the committee reviews each student's transcript, autobiography and recommendations from two teachers, a counselor and their Holmstad supervisor. The funds come from several sources of resident activities including the Home Store, which sells gently used furniture and household items, and the Annual Holiday Bazaar, which features a wide variety of crafts, homemade baked goods and more.
All Holmstad residents are invited to meet the winners and their parents at a hospitality hour preceding an awards dinner. “We introduce each winner individually,” explains Gustafson. “That frequently generates cheers and whistles from the other students who've worked with the winners throughout the year.” To ensure that the winners were recognized before their entire class, a representative of the Scholarship & Awards Committee attended each school's awards night and acknowledged the winners.
Holmstad residents began the scholarship program in 1992. Since then, the residents have awarded $86,450 to graduating high school seniors who have worked in the community's dining services department for at least six months.
The Holmstad is a faith-based, nationally accredited, not-for-profit continuing care retirement community located at 700 W. Fabyan Parkway, Batavia, Ill. It is administered by Covenant Retirement Communities Inc., which is a ministry of the Evangelical Covenant Church. For more information on The Holmstad, visit www.TheHolmstad.org.