Annual Youth Merit Awards
By Bob Barber
 
In what is always one of our most inspirational programs of the year, 26 graduating seniors from Charlotte's public and private high schools were introduced for our annual Merit Awards Program. As usual, this was an impressive group of young people. Each merit award recipient was introduced with a brief description of their academic achievements, their extra-curricular and leadership activities, and their volunteer service activities. This was a very, very active and high-achieving group and certainly served to remind us that there are some very good things going on in our high schools and that we can look to the future with optimism.
   
Each of the award recipients was given a plaque and a $500 scholarship for college expenses. The award recipients for the private high schools were presented by Arch McIntosh, Charlotte Latin School, with Gene Bratek, Providence Day School, assisting. The recipients from the public high schools were presented by Peter Gorman, Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools, with John Snyder, Dixon Hughes, assisting. A list of the recipients and a brief summary of their future plans is provided below:
    
Private Schools
Charlotte Catholic High School: Pedro Hernandez; will go to Queens Univ. of Charlotte to major in Art and Architecture
Charlotte Christian School: Jonathan Morgan; will go to Georgia Tech. to major in Aerospace Engineering
Charlotte Country Day School: Elizabeth Laseter; will go to Johns Hopkins Univ. to major in English and Writing
Charlotte Latin School: Jessica O'Connor; will go to Louisiana State Univ. to major in Art
Hickory Grove Baptist Christian School: Mary Elizabeth Robertson; will go to Central Piedmont Comm. College and then to UNC-Charlotte
Northside Christian Academy: Yvonne Emma Hsu; will go to Elon Univ. to major in Pre-Medicine
Providence Day School: Kimberly Brook Garner; will go to UNC-Chapel Hill to major in Journalism and Environmental Studies
  
Public Schools
Biotechnology, Health & Public Education at Olympic: Jonathan Emanuel Young; will go to UNC-Greensboro to major in Pre-Medicine
Butler High School: Cameron Mellon; will go to UNC-Greensboro to major in Nursing
Phillip O. Berry Academy of Technology: Leticia Mone't Brandon; will go to UNC-Chapel Hill to major in Biology
East Mecklenburg High School: Scierra Bratton; will go to UNC-Greensboro to major in Media Studies and Broadcast Journalism
Garinger High School: Cory Kameron Bennett; will go to UNC-Greensboro to major in Pre-Dentistry
Harding High School: Chri'Shonda Nicole Benson; will go to UNC-Greensboro to major in Business Administration
Hopewell High School: Heather Venant; will go to UNC-Chapel Hill to major in Chemistry and Pharmacy
Independence High School: Tracy Joy Anderson; will go to NC State University to major in Zoology
Midwood/TAPS: Alexandra McKnight; will go to UNC-Greensboro to major in Business Administration
Myers Park High School: Charles D. VanTassell; will go to Univ. of Pennsylvania, Wharton School to major in Finance
North Mecklenburg High School: Jason M. Peak; will enlist in the United States Air Force
Northwest School of the Arts: Rebecca Garrett; will go to Furman University
Performance Learning Center: Christine Alexandria Sanders; will go to UNC-Greensboro to major in Nursing
Providence High School: Christa Nina Fields; will go to Spelman College to major in Biology and Music
South Mecklenburg High School: Catherine Ellen Bruce; will go to UNC-Chapel Hill
Vance High School: Monique Hardin; will go to UNC-Chapel Hill to major in Public Policy and Education
E. E. Waddell High School: Eashna Jenise Reaves; will go to Art Institute of Charlotte
West Charlotte High School: Demetrius Lee Phillips; will go to either Western Carolina Univ. or NC State Univ. to major in Graphic Design d and Music Production
West Mecklenburg High School: Kevin Morgan Graves; will go to Appalachian State Univ. to major in Pre-Pharmacy
  
The Rotary Club of Charlotte congratulates these outstanding students.
  
Head Table: John Snyder, Chris Kemper, Luther Moore, Arch McIntosh, Peter Gorman, Roberta Smith, Gene Bratek
Invocation: Joey Godbold
Visitors & Guests: Warren Kean; Health & Happiness: Ed Turner; Song: Biff Virkler; Music: Thomas Moore

• Condolences are extended to the Rotary family: Pam Daigle's husband, Roy, passed away on Tuesday after suffering a heart attack (6315 Skyline Dr, Charlotte 28269) ; Dean Jones' father, Robert Blythe Jones, passed away on May 14th (1954 Queens Rd. W, Charlotte 28207).
 
• Ed Turner shared the good news that his daughter gave birth to the family's first grandson last week; Lori Hurd, Girl Scouts Hornets' Nest Council, presented the Women of Distinction luncheon in April. Former club member Dee Dee Murphy, Leadership Charlotte, received the Achievement in Community Building and Social Capital award; Elizabeth Oehler Barnhardt, daughter of Alan and Eleanor Barnhardt, granddaughter of Bill and Harriet Barnhardt, was presented at the Charlotte Debutante Club's annual ball at Charlotte Country Club; Will Staton, son of Bill and Mary Staton, has earned his Boy Scout Eagle Award with Bronze Palm.
 
• Charlotte Weekly newspaper's lead story featured David Erdman and his fabulous geography presentations; Bill Staton was covered in an interesting article on organ donors; Jeff Elder's column made a connection with Sporting News relocating its online operations to Charlotte and Kurt Waldthausen, Honorary Consul of the Federal Republic of Germany to NC (Sporting Newsdanke…big jazz party…).
  
• Jim Woodward says the Mecklenburg Citizens for Public Education committee will be ready to take a stand on the CMS bond campaign before the November election; Ronnie Bryant, Charlotte Regional Partnership, contributed to an article on tax credits; Janet Fortner, Hospice & Palliative Care Charlotte Region, reports $10.6 million has been raised for the Levine & Dickson Hospice House, which is scheduled to open in Huntersville in January.

• If you are making a trip to New York or Washington, DC before June 17th and would be able to have Suji accompany you (so she can visit family members), please contact Matt Joyner, 704-295-0226.

• HOST FAMILIES are needed for the club's exchange student, Isa Masa Tejeda, who will arrive from Spain in the fall. If you can help, please contact Ed Wadsworth at 704-895-3435 or Lamar Thomas, 704-372-8615.

The Classification and Membership Committee recommend and the Directors approve for consideration for all members, the following NEW MEMBER. Should you question the eligibility of any nominee, please call the Rotary Office by May 21st. You will be contacted by a member of the Board. Otherwise, no reply is necessary and election will proceed according to our bylaws.