Rochester Adams Students Raise Money to Give Classmate Scholarship

Rochester, MI – This Spring, the Rochester Adams Interact Club broke new ground for high school philanthropy and awarded a fellow Rochester Adams student with a $2,000 scholarship to Oakland Community College; enough to cover almost a full year of tuition.

Each year, the Adams Interact Club raises money for various community and even international projects. A few hundred dollars for winter coats, a couple hundred dollars to buy mosquito nets for populations battling Malaria, or a donation to a local soup kitchen.

But for the 2016-2017 school year, the Adams Interact students set their sights on an unprecedented goal: raising the funds to award a scholarship worth $2,000.

It took an entire year to raise the money through efforts including their innovative morning donut sale which has become an institution at the school in and of itself. Although their goal was an incredible $4,000 for 2 scholarships, they did manage to raise almost $3,000. Enough for one scholarship, with the balance rolling over into next school year’s efforts.

Then, when it came time to award the scholarship, the Adams Interact Club didn’t overlook the need in their own back yard. Not everyone in Rochester Hills can afford expensive college education and being the odd one out in a prosperous community can sometimes feel even more isolating.

To that end, they chose a fellow Rochester Adams student who needed financial assistance to attend Oakland Community College. That way they could help ensure the academic dedication of their high school classmate could continue, no matter what their current financial resources.

“I’m beyond proud of these kids,” said Director of Youth Programming, Wayne Hodges. “They set a remarkable goal and saw the fruit of their efforts. Their dedication to this cause means that one of their classmates will get to go to college. The depth of character it took to identify a hidden need in their own back yard, and spend a year to make a tangible impact is beyond anything I’ve seen before.”

Both Interact members who lead the initiative were both recognized as Paul Harris Fellows, a prestigious award for service to the community given by Rotary.

Rochester Rotary is a local member club of Rotary International, a worldwide organization of business and professional leaders that provides humanitarian service and encourages high ethical standards in all vocations.

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About Rochester Rotary

Celebrating 60 years as a club in 2014, Rochester Rotary is one of 34,000 member clubs of Rotary International, which has more than 1.2 million members and raises and disburses funds for charitable, educational and scientific purposes. Monies are raised through social events and service projects organized by the club, ‘fines’ collected at Rochester Rotary meetings and gifts offered to the club through members and supporters.

The club welcomes new members who live or work in Rochester, Rochester Hills or Oakland Township. For membership information, contact Jeff Whitbey at Jeff@whitbey.net. Rochester Rotary meets each Tuesday at noon at the River Crest Banquet Hall at Avon Road and Livernois, in Rochester Hills. Learn more at http://www.rochesterrotaryclub.org/.

About Rotary International

Rotary’s main objective is service — in the community, in the workplace, and around the globe. The 1.2 million Rotarians who hail from Rotary clubs in nearly every country in the world share a dedication to the ideal of Service Above Self. Rotary clubs are open to people of all cultures and ethnicities and are not affiliated with any political or religious organizations. Learn more at https://www.rotary.org/en/about-rotary.

For More Information Contact: John Somerville, 248-953-4752