Exchange Parade Surprises Student Scholarship Winners
The Exchange Club of Gurnee awards five annual scholarships to graduating seniors of Warren Township High School in support of Exchange's youth programs. The following are the scholarships awarded:
Youth of the Year. This award recognizes a student who attains a high level of scholastic achievement and demonstrates community involvement and leadership. Matthew Garcia of Gurnee won the Youth of the year ($2,000) scholarship. He plans to study Business Marketing at the University of South Florida.
A.C.E. Award. Accepting the Challenge of Excellence Award recognizes the accomplishments of students who have overcome adversities and successfully achieved their high school graduation. The $2,000 scholarship was awarded to Laela Manlick of Gurnee. She will attend Northeastern Illinois University majoring in Social Work.
The Verna Rocheleau Scholarship is given to a youth who displays commitment to their academic achievement, demonstrates community involvement through service, participates in school activities, and is a graduate of Gurnee District 56. Peter Micksch of Wadsworth is the winner of this $2,000 scholarship. He will pursue Materials Science Engineering at Iowa State University. Rocheleau was a long time administrator at Gurnee 56 and was an active member of the Village Board for many years. She loved children and is remembered for being an outstanding 5th grade teacher.
The William F. Souza Scholarship recognizes outstanding scholastic performance, community involvement and leadership. The recipient of this $2,000 scholarship is Adnan Sarancic of Gurnee. He plans to major in Economics at Lawrence University, Wisconsin. Souza was an active member of the Exchange club. He was an employee of Warren Township High School for many years and was known as "Mr. Blue Devil" because he embodied the best of school spirit for his commitment to youth activities and the youth of Gurnee.
The W. Howard Swanson Memorial Scholarship recognizes outstanding scholastic performance, community involvement and leadership. The recipient of this $2,000 scholarship, Victoria Kurisu of Grayslake, plans to pursue nursing at Loyola University Chicago. Swanson was an active member of the Exchange club. A respected member of the community, he served as the attorney for the Village of Gurnee and practiced law in Waukegan.
In addition to student scholarships, the Exchange club awards $8,000 to support nearly 20 organizations in Lake County, especially Warren Township, that work toward Exchange 's programs of service in Americanism, youth programs, community service and its national project, the prevention of Child abuse.
The Exchange Club of Gurnee, a volunteer service organization consisting of 61 members, is a local chapter of the national organization working together to make communities better places to live. Monies raised through fundraising activities are brought back to the community through scholarships and grants. This year, because of Covid 19, the Exchange club canceled its fundraisers, Salad in the Park, Bob Depke Memorial Golf Outing, and its biggest fundraiser, Ribfest.
For more information on the Exchange Club of Gurnee, contact Lyla Chandy at 224-717-0613 or visit www.exchangeclubof gurnee.org or follow us on Facebook, The Exchange Club of Gurnee.