University and Rotary Club award over $500,000 in scholarships to local 8th graders
By Daniel R. Brown
Of the St. Louis American
Last Thursday, during his 8th grade graduation ceremony from Blewett Middle School, 8th grader Zhonnay Griffin received awards for academic excellence in everything from social studies to science. One award, though, stood out from the rest: Griffin received a $20,000 scholarship to Webster University.
Griffin was one of 28 8th graders within the City of St. Louis to receive the prestigious scholarship, which is sponsored by the Rotary Club of St. Louis.
“I was surprised when I received the scholarship,” Griffin said.
“I was surprised when they picked me, because there where other, smarter students. I was surprised that I was picked out of everyone else.”
“I am so proud,” said Zhonnnay’s father, Keith Beene.
“I am so happy and excited that I can’t even describe how I really feel. In fact, I am more than proud.”
For the past 20 years, the St. Louis Rotary Club has honored top 8th graders in the City of St. Louis with $4,000 scholarships to Webster University, along with other awards. This year, however, both the university and the Rotary Club decided to up the ante.
“No one ever took the award. All these kids are the best of the best. They have better options than staying in St. Louis and going to Webster for $4,000,” said John Reed Jr., chairman of the Rotary Club 8th Grade Awards.
“I went to Webster University, and when I took over chair this year, I said, ‘Hey, nobody has ever taken this award. Why don’t we up it?’ They came back with $20,000 over four years, not only for present 8th grade awardees but for past awardees as well. This year, we had three people who are graduating from 12th grade accept this special award.”
In addition to the scholarships, Rotary Club took the students for a week to a camp in Troy, Missouri, where they participated in bonfires, skits and a scavenger hunt.
“The camping experience is to celebrate and to get them to associate with kids who won the award and are of the same caliber,” Reed explained.
“This gave them a chance to meet their peers in other 8th grade classes.”
Beth Russell, director of Webster’s Downtown campus, explained how the scholarship program works.
“We are giving the students a promissory note that if they come to Webster University in four years – if they graduate from high school, and if they apply and are accepted to Webster – they will get an automatic $5,000 for their first year of study,” Russell said.
“That scholarship can be renewable for the following three years as long as they have full-time status and they maintain a GPA of 3.0.”
Russell also explained why it is so important that eighth grades see the importance of continuing a high level of achievement once they enter their high school years.
“We really like the fact that we can give 8th grade students some incentive to think about the future, to look to the future of themselves. We want to remind them that there are opportunities out there, and they shouldn’t get lost in their environment.” Russell said.
“It reminds them that the next four years are very important for them in terms of preparing themselves for college. It’s a good incentive for them to stay on the right track, because they are already doing things to make themselves successful.”
In addition to Griffin, students honored this year were Rodney Pruitt of Busch AAA Middle School, LaMesha Brown of Blow Middle School, Yetnayet Alemayehu of Bunche International Studies Middle School, Vincent Floyd of Mel Carnahan Middle School, Tomminesha T. Matchingtouch of Carr Lane Middle School, Marcus Howard of Compton-Drew ILC Middle School, Stephanie Carson of Fanning Middle School, Julia Hahn of Gateway Middle School, Ashley Taylor and Brittny Taylor of Humboldt Middle School, Kenneth Gray of Langston Middle School, Dilveen S. Barwari of Long CEC Middle School, Chasidy Allen of L’Ouverture Middle School, Regina Fowler of McKinley CJA, Danielle Cotton of Northwest Middle School, Mathew Rutledge of Pruitt Military, Lauren C. Brown of Stevens Middle School, Anshaniqua Sanders of Stowe Middle School, Dante Evans of Turner Middle School, Dontez Smith of Webster Middle School, and Michael Porter of Yeatman-Liddell Middle School.
Seven more students were honored from parochial or private schools, but Reed did not have consent to release those names at press time.
