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| Many Thanks Were Given |
Editor: Donald Galleher
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I
think we all were touched and moved by our program last week. For more years than can be remembered, our Club has
been providing at least three scholarships for re-entry students at Glendale
Community College.
Glady
Kabatek does all work in selecting the students. This year she sorted through some 6,000
applications to find the three outstanding
students she brought to the meeting.
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Each
one had a special story of just how much this scholarship means and how it will
help them in their studies. We heard from Rashon, Natalia and Stephen. Their stories were incredible.
Rashon talked about his 5 years in foster care and being part of a gang. He has clearly turned his life around and wants to be an architect.
Stephen is a Viet Nam immigrant and was unable to go to high school because he took care of his grandparents. He is going to school at GCC, killing his classes and tutoring. He hopes to work in the technology industry.
Natalia has received very high praise from the professors and is on track to be a dental hygienist.
The
President of our Foundation Tye Veden
handed out the checks.
The icing on the cake was when Charles Eastman one of our former
awardees came back to tell us just had much
the help had meant to him. Charles lost his job at age 50 and floated for a while. He came in contact with Jack and Glady and, by the urging of his wife, went back to school.
Charles had received an award from Glendale Rotary 15 years ago. Besides the financial benefit, it validated him and gave him the confidence to move forward. He continued in school and was asked to come on staff at GCC. He has touched many lives and came back to tell us how much he appreciated our Club's help.
This was the
kind of program that really made you feel proud to be a Glendale Noon Rotarian. |
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