New City Rotary Awards 5 Prestigious Scholarships to Local Graduates

The New City Rotary Club awarded five scholarships Monday afternoon to recent graduates who have excelled academically and have served their communities to an outstanding level. 

Four recipients—Alana Kurtti, Juliana Alvarado, Joan Lee and Emily Bowman—each received $1,000 from the Rotary. Erica Schutzman also received $1,000 dollars from the Harris Berger Memorial Scholarship.

Chairman of the Scholarship Committee Bart Silverman was thrilled to present the awards, he told Patch.

 “Giving the scholarships is one of the best things I can do,” Silverman said. “It’s so rewarding.”

Four of the five recipients graduated this year from Clarkstown South, with Joan Lee being the only winner to have graduated from Clarkstown North.

Lee was this year’s class salutatorian at North, and will be off to Princeton in the fall to study Chemistry. While in high school, Lee was President of the French Club and Mu Alpha Theta, editor-in-chief of the literary magazine Epiphany, competed in varsity track and field as well as tennis, played piano in her free time and scored a perfect 2400 on her SATS. Lee felt truly honored and lucky to win this scholarship, she said.

“I was going to have to work next semester at Princeton to support myself, but with this scholarship I no longer have to work,” Lee said. “Instead, I can work on a research project and focus on my studies.”

Alana Kurtti, valedictorian of her class this year at Clarkstown South, said, she was equally blithe.

“I’m really honored, especially since it’s from a local committee—I hope to use it to further my education,” she said.

Kurtti will be attending Georgetown University, and hopes to become an oncologist. Her high school achievements include playing varsity softball and soccer and working with both Operation Smile and New Visions Health program. Kurtti was also crowned homecoming queen.

Emily Bowman also received the Rotary’s honor. Bowman hopes to pursue a career in journalism or publishing, and will study English at the College of the Holy Cross. Bowman was cast in three musicals in high school, was an AP Scholar with honors, a National Merit Scholar, and was treasurer of the National Honor Society. Bowman also volunteered at Camp Venture, a non-profit that provides services to adults with developmental disabilities.

Another South graduate who received the scholarship was Juliana Alvarado, who will study Speech Pathology at SUNY Plattsburg.

On her application for the scholarship, answering what she would hope to be when she is older, Alvarado wrote, “I hope to always show empathy, kindness and continue to grow as a human being.” Alvarado worked four jobs throughout her high school career, was heavily involved in both her church and Girl Scouts, and was a Varsity cheerleader.

Erica Schutzman, a Clarkstown South graduate as well, was awarded the Harris Berger Memorial Scholarship.

“With all the work you [New City Rotary] do for the community, it is such a privilege to be awarded this scholarship,” Schutzman said. Schutzman was a member of the Interact Club in high school, and in her free time plays piano and tap dances. She will be attending Brandeis, going into the field of medical research.

“It's one of the highlights of the year for me as a Rotarian,” said Tammy Schwartz, a member of the scholarship committee said. “It’s so important to show the community how proud we are of the graduates.”