Covenant Village awards grants to graduates
The residents of Covenant Village of Northbrook, a faith-based, nonprofit continuing care retirement community administered by Covenant Retirement Communities, awarded four local high school seniors grant-in-aid funding to continue their education totaling $10,000.
The students are Brayan De Ita Romero, Wiktoria Rzeszowska, Anna Kutonova and Izabel Guminski.
The funds for the grant-in-aid funding were raised during the senior living community's 33rd annual Holly Fair, which was held Nov. 8, 2014.
"It is very exciting to present these four students with funds raised during the Holly Fair to further their education and achieve their goals," said Peg Sickeler, Covenant Village of Northbrook's Holly Fair chairwoman.
"Their hard work and dedication make an impact at Covenant Village of Northbrook, and we are honored to help invest in their future."
Made up of recent high school graduates, De Ita Romero, Rzeszowska and Guminski attended Wheeling High School, and Kutonova attended Buffalo Grove High School.
De Ita Romero is a dietary aide at Covenant Village of Northbrook's assisted living community, Brandel Health and Rehab and Axelson Assisted Living Community. He is currently enrolled in Harper College's computer science program for the fall semester.
In his application, De Ita Romero commented that since working at Brandel Health and Rehab, his compassion for working with seniors has grown, he has improved his customer services skills and feels accomplished at the end of his shift.
Rzeszowska has worked for Covenant Village of Northbrook for nearly a year. Born in Poland, she moved to the United States 10 years ago. Rzeszowska states in her application that she has enjoyed working at Covenant Village of Northbrook and plans to attend Harper College in the fall semester.
Guminski has worked for Covenant Village of Northbrook for more than a year. She is a residential dining employee and has already enrolled in summer courses at Harper College. Guminski comments in her application that she is interested in pursuing an education in medicine.
Aspiring dentist Kutonova currently works as a residential dining employee at Covenant Village of Northbrook. Kutonova plans to attend the University of Illinois at Chicago. She cited in her application that she loves working with people of all ages and is "extremely grateful to have the opportunity to work in such a great community with amazing people."
To achieve this financial support, Covenant Village of Northbrook employees are required to complete a 200-word application stating how the funds will enhance their education, describe academic plans and where the applicants either planned to attend or were enrolled.
Applications are then reviewed by Covenant Village of Northbrook's Holly Fair committee. Applications for 2016 will be accepted in the spring.
For information on Covenant Village of Northbrook and resident programs, visit www.covenantnorthbrook.org or call (877) 816-5668.
• Submit 'Your News' at www.dailyherald.com/share.