Des Plaines Community Foundation awards scholarships
The Des Plaines Community Foundation recently awarded four $1,500 scholarships to Des Plaines students. This is the fourth year the foundation has offered these scholarships. A new fifth scholarship for $1,000 was added this year.
"We believe that helping our young adults obtain a college education is an investment, not only in the future of our youth, but also in the future of Des Plaines," said Rosemary Argus, executive director of the foundation. "The scholarships will help bring a college degree within reach for students who deserve it most."
The four original scholarships were available for both two-year and four-year college students. The Sadie Rose Argus Leadership Award is the fifth scholarship and is new in 2015.
The four recipients of Foundation Scholarships are Amanda Rey and Mallory Tamillo from Maine West High School, Melissa Picchi from Elk Grove High School, and Anetta Siemanowicz from Maine East High School.
The fifth leadership award of $1,000 was given to Michael Boyd of Maine West High School. He was the first recipient of the new Sadie Rose Argus Leadership Award.
Here are the details about the five scholarship recipients:
• Amanda Rey will attend the University of Florida to major in health science. She would like to become either a nurse practitioner or a physician assistant in the long term. Rey enjoys volunteering and was very active in several groups. She was also a Class of 2015 officer for three years, as well as an active member of the Student Council, National Honor Society and Warrior Pride.
• Mallory Tamillo will attend the University of Illinois and plans to study psychology. Tamillo has been involved with youth group service such as Key Club, A Voice for the Nameless and the National Honor Society. She enjoys volunteering her service in the community and believes this work has allowed her to become a more independent and empathetic person.
• Anetta Anna Siemanowicz plans to attend Northwestern University and will be studying materials science and engineering. She plans to specialize in medical applications such as X-rays and artificial limbs. Siemanowicz has always wanted to make a difference in her community and in the lives of others.
This fall, Siemanowicz plans to be involved with a service-based sorority and program aimed to help children with special needs. In the past she has volunteered at nursing homes, the Niles Public Library Summer Reading Program and the Leukemia Research Foundation. She has also volunteered as a tutor for preschool and kindergarten classes, political campaigns and worked as a counselor with the Maine-Niles Association of Special Recreation.
• Melissa Ann Picchi plans to attend Ball State University and study exercise science and physical therapy. She recently completed a class at Elk Grove High School called Leadership Through Service, which offered her a chance to make a difference in the community. Pucchi said that community service has taught her leadership and communication skills, allowing her to do what she loves - helping others.
She spent a lot of time at the Elk Grove Senior Center this year and also helped with the Senior Citizen Olympics, which involved seniors from neighboring communities. Picchi's biggest project was planning a fundraiser for the St. Baldrick's Foundation, which raises money for childhood cancer research. They raised $30,000, exceeding their goal of $10,000.
• Michael Boyd, the fifth and newest scholarship winner, was awarded The Sadie Rose Argus Leadership Award. He will be attending Western Michigan University in the fall and is planning to study aviation. The award was announced at the Maine West graduation in June by board member Mark Lucaccioni.
The Sadie Rose Argus Leadership Award was established to recognize young individuals who volunteer and share their time and talents with the DPCF. This new award is given to students in recognition of their efforts and volunteer hours directly related to carrying out the mission, programs and services of the foundation.
The DPCF scholarship committee trustees are Rich Holke, Kimberly Ball, Mark Lucaccioni, Sandra Hansen, Kathy Puetz and Margaret Polovchak. They judged the student applications based on strict guidelines and required paperwork.
Students who fill out the online application for the original four DPCF educational scholarships are required to be Des Plaines residents, have a GPA of 3.0 or higher. High school seniors must be in the process of applying to or enrolled in an accredited undergraduate program at college, university or vocational/technical institution during the fall semester of 2015 to be eligible.
A minimum of 12 credit hours per semester is required. Graduate programs do not qualify.
For next year, students must complete a scholarship program application that can be downloaded at www.desplainescommunityfoundation.org/scholarship.
The foundation raises funds to identify, link and mobilize assets to support the service programs of the Des Plaines Healthy Community Partnership Programs whose activities improve the lives of those that live and work in Des Plaines.
Some of the programs include: Neighbors Helping Neighbors Program committee, Healthy Community/Healthy Youth Program committee, Intergenerational Program committee and Seasons of Service program committee.
The foundation has no paid employees and is 100 percent volunteer. Foundation is a 501c3 organization and funds are obtained from individuals, businesses and corporate tax-deductible contributions as well as from other foundations.
For more information, go to www.DPCharties.org or www.desplainescommunityfoundation.org, or call Rosemary Argus at (847) 297-4932 or (847) 525-5566.
• Submit 'Your News' at www.dailyherald.com/share.