Rotary Club of Dearborn awards $73,700 in scholarships, including 2 HFC nursing students and 4 HFEC students
In late May, the Rotary Club of Dearborn – celebrating its 100th year of service – awarded a record amount of $73,700 in scholarship money to 27 students at a dinner celebration that was held in the Welcome Center at HFC.
"Dearborn Rotary gave more than $70,000 in scholarships to Dearborn students this year. I'm proud of the work Rotary does every year in supporting area students, many of whom attend HFC. As chair of the Dearborn Rotary Foundation for this fiscal year, I look forward to continuing to advance this important work in our community,” said HFC political science instructor and Local 1650 president Dr. Eric Rader.
Each award category is endowed by or honors a past Dearborn Rotarian, who recognized the importance of education and sought to pay their own success forward by helping outstanding students with college expenses. Among this year’s scholarship winners affiliated with the College are two HFC nursing students, four Henry Ford Early College students, and two Henry Ford Collegiate Academy students.
“Honoring these outstanding students, along with meeting their family members, teachers, and school officials, is truly a highlight of the year,” said Shannon Peterson, 2022-23 Dearborn Rotary co-president.
HFC Nursing Scholarship awarded to Trey Harpole and Annette Arias
Dearborn Rotarian and Past President Lee Hollmann presented the HFC Nursing Scholarship, established in conjunction with the Henry Ford College Foundation, to nursing students Annette Arias and Jerry “Trey” Harpole III.
“This scholarship helped me purchase my books,” said Harpole, of Canton. “HFC has made my nursing journey amazing! I have been afforded many opportunities for self-growth and am proud to be graduating from the College in December.”
Celebrating 50 years as a Dearborn Rotarian, Past President Roger Miller presented the Past Presidents Leadership awards to four Dearborn Public Schools seniors who will attend a Michigan college or university, including Dearborn High School senior Maha Abubaker, who is also earning an associate degree from HFCA.
Otto Rowen Scholarship awarded to 4 HFEC students and 1 HFCA student
The largest scholarship category is the Otto Rowen Vocational Scholarship honoring the memory of the former Rotarian, who served the Dearborn community as a teacher and a principal. Rotary established the trust fund administered by the Dearborn Rotary Foundation to provide scholarships for Dearborn students who are the best representatives in their vocational areas as recommended by their instructors. The awards can be used for expenses related to their vocational pursuits.
Dearborn Rotarian Angela Linder presented Otto Rowen scholarships to 15 students, including DHS and HFCA student Mya Hamood and the following HFEC students:
- Amber Barr
- Angela Loredo
- Lea Nahli
- Joshua Steinhebel
“The four HFEC students who are recipients of the Otto Rowen Vocational Scholarships are the best representatives of Early college students,” said HFEC principal Dr. Winifred Green. “They have career dreams, and they also have great potential for future success through a college education.”
“Researching our club’s history over the past 100 years, we can be proud of the help extended to youth, locally and internationally,” said David Anderson, 2023-24 president-elect. “Since its incorporation in 1966, the Dearborn Rotary Foundation has gifted approximately $1 million to scholarships and youth initiatives.”