Foundation awards six scholarships for college students

The Des Plaines Community Foundation recently awarded four, $1,500 scholarships to Des Plaines students. This is the fifth year the foundation has offered these scholarships for both two-year and four-year college students.

A second annual Sadie Rosie scholarship for $1,000 was presented this year, as well as the new Paul Bartholomae Scholarship award of $1,500 - both targeted to junior and senior high-school students for college tuition.

"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 Sadie Rose Argus Leadership Award is the fifth $1,500 scholarship presented to help pay a worthy student's college tuition. The Sadie Rose Leadership Award was presented to Jake Migasi of Maine West High School, and a student who worked with the DPCF for two years. The award was announced at the Maine West graduation in June by board member Mark Lucaccioni.

Migasi chose not to go to college but instead asked for assistance in finding a full-time job. The DPCF board did help him find a job at Pesche's Flowers in Des Plaines and voted to give him a cash prize of $250.

The Sadie Rose Argus Leadership Award was established to recognize young individuals who volunteer and share their time and talents with the DPCF.

A new sixth scholarship award was added this year to honor Paul Bartholomae, which included $1,500 toward college tuition.

Bartholomae recently-retired after 35 years as the Building Trades instructor at Maine West High School.

Antonio Muniz from Maine West High School was the recipient of the Bartholomae award and will use the scholarship to study Fire Science at Oakton Community College. Muniz plans to be a firefighter.

Both of these awards were 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 four recipients for the foundation scholarships are Abigail Mendoza from Maine West High School; Breanna Keeley from Elk Grove High School; Jonathan Meehan from Saint Viator High School, and Natalie Hardy from Elk Grove High School.

Here are the details about the five scholarship recipients:

• Abigail Mendoza will attend Indiana University-Purdue University in Indianapolis, Indiana, to major in Fine Arts. Her goal is a master's degree in Art Therapy. Mendoza must complete a bachelor's degree with credits in art and psychology, leading to a master's certificate in Art Therapy.

Art is what she loves most and wants to use it to heal future patients. After caring for her grandmother, Mendoza took her passion for helping others to her favorite hospital where her grandmother passed. She became a pediatric volunteer and was given the opportunity to visit patients and spend time with them to make their hospital stay more comfortable.

"My volunteer work at Lutheran General Hospital helped me choose a career aimed at helping others using what I love most of all - art," she said.

• Breanna Keenley, who will attend the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, plans to study Political Science and Spanish. Her goal is to become a lawyer and politician, and after she graduates be involved in local government.

Keenley enjoys volunteering and fundraising. She was very active in her Leadership through Service class's fundraising goal of $22,000, where she raised nearly $3,000 for St. Baldrick's. She realized how much she could achieve by setting goals and working together with other volunteers.

She recently decided that she wanted to become a politician after college. When asked to be president of Best Buddies, a club at school helping kids with disabilities, she welcomed the leadership position. She also worked with Operation Christmas Child, Peer Helpers, Student Council and Relay For Life to organize philanthropic events.

• Jonathan Meehan plans to attend Northwestern University and will be studying Environmental Engineering. After graduating, he intends to further his education in law school where he can earn a J.D. in Patent Law.

Meehan embarked on a 10-week journey with the Youth for Elderly Service Group, which allowed him to share his love and passion for the elderly with other teenagers. He was astonished at the fact that elderly are so often disregarded as members of society.

"Whether helping Roberta play Dominos at Oakton Place, serving an engaging couple warm pasta at Catholic Charities or celebrating Beverly's 99th birthday with my volleyball teammates at St. Joseph's Home - one thing for certain is a future serving the elderly, utilizing their wisdom, and preserving their stories will be an integral part of my life," Meehan said.

The overarching goal for Meehan is not to receive a big pay check, but to invest his talent, time, and full-fledged efforts into fulfilling vocation that serves the greater good.

• Natalie Hardy will attend Augustana College in Rock Island, and plans to study Biology and Physician Assistant.

Hardy had a life-changing experience recently when she became an orphan camp art director overseas in impoverished Armenia through a nonprofit charity.

She interacted with kids age 5 to 14 years, spending days teaching, playing and learning from the children she came there to help.

Hardy said that community service has taught her leadership and communication skills and allowing her to do what she loves, helping others.

"To serve is an important goal, and I want to make a positive change by doing something," she said.

Her ambitions include to graduate college as an honors student, live an uncomplicated life and pay it forward.

The DPCF scholarship committee trustees are Rich Holke, Kimberly Ball, Mark Lucaccioni, Sandra Hansen, Kathy Puetz, Margaret Polovchak and Dick Sayad. 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.

Students seeking to be considered for the 2017 scholarship program must complete an application, which 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.

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