The Summit High School Youth Excel Club works and volunteers under the Fontana Exchange Club on projects. The Exchange Club has ways to give back to youth with its “A.C.E.” and “Youth of the Year” scholarship awards, both of which students need to submit to counselors on Friday, Feb. 14. Counselors must submit these applications to the Exchange Club website by Friday, Feb. 28.
The Summit High School Youth Excel Club works and volunteers under the Fontana Exchange Club on projects. The Exchange Club has ways to give back to youth with its “A.C.E.” and “Youth of the Year” scholarship awards, both of which students need to submit to counselors on Friday, Feb. 14. Counselors must submit these applications to the Exchange Club website by Friday, Feb. 28.
With the new year underway, the Fontana Exchange Club will provide for the Fontana community via its two scholarship programs whose deadlines are approaching. The club has the “Accepting the Challenge of Excellence” and the “Youth of the Year” awards for students. Neither Exchange Club nor Youth Excel Club membership is required to claim these scholarships.
Fontana Unified School District counselors must submit student applications to the club’s website by Friday, Feb. 28. Students must submit their applications to counselors by Friday, Feb. 14.
“We’ve had this scholarship option for quite a while now,” said Vanessa Antekeier, Exchange Club member who runs the Youth Excel Club at Summit High School.
“We’ve distributed money to the school district, and it’s due mainly to the Fontana Days Festival in June that we do annually and have done so for 112 years. Every dollar people pay to enter this festival goes straight to club expenses and whatever we have left goes to scholarships.”
Antekeier said she is trying to acquire festival sponsors to offset the cost the club pays for its annual Fontana Days Festival to leave more money left over for these scholarships. She explained the key differences between both and what applying students should expect.
“Both are important and the same amount is awarded, whether it’s ‘A.C.E.’ or the ‘Youth of the Year’ award,” Antekeier said, specifying that the payout is anywhere upward of $15,000. “‘A.C.E.’ is for those struggling through life, where they’re going today and the story behind their accomplishment. The ‘Youth of the Year’ is more academic. It has more to do with GPA, volunteer hours and extracurricular activities.
“These scholarships are open to all senior students within FUSD. My job is to get ahold of these counselors to get the ball rolling. We try to do that within November and December because the due date for students to sign up is Friday, Feb. 14. The counselors must turn in student applications by Friday, Feb. 28.”
Because of the club’s long history, Antekeier said she would like to check back on students who received these awards in the past and how the money has affected their success.
“I want to see what they’re accomplishing with their lives right now,” Antekeier said.
Regarding the Youth Excel Club, the Exchange Club’s youth sector that started at Summit High School, she said it is going well and attendance is high.
“There are about 30 students in the Excel Club,” Antekeier said. “It varies because kids are kids and may not know what type of club they want to be in. So far, we’ve had two meetings and one event and from what I’ve seen, we have more members here than in the Exchange Club. I’m happy about that milestone.
“Because of this turnout, I’m in the early stages of getting three more clubs started elsewhere other than Summit High School. Places like FOHI sound good but still thinking about it.”
What makes these clubs so important, Antekeier says, has to do with vital funding for these scholarships and the Fontana Days Parade. On Monday, Jan. 20, the club held its MLK Days of Service in which students volunteered at an animal shelter, cleaned up along the Pacific Electric Trail and made Valentine’s Day cards at Mt. View Church, which will be handed to senior citizens come the holiday.
“As far as I know, it will be on Valentine’s Day and that’s more geared toward younger kids because we don’t want people to think volunteering is just for the adults,” Antekeier said. “Any age is appropriate to volunteer, even if we get them starting at 5. Even a child can make a Valentine’s Day card.
“We advertise on our Instagram page, but it’s up to citizens whether they want to volunteer. We don’t want to push anybody to do things they don’t want to do. So that’s why we leave it open and tell people the hours they can sign up for. That’s why we provide different opportunities. One of my students said they’re not a dog person, which is fine. They do not have to help at the shelter and can help elsewhere.”
Tentative volunteer plans include an awareness campaign promotion with In-N-Out Burger, although Antekeier said she has yet to hear back from the corporate office.
“I’m working with my Excel Club officers on doing something for Child Abuse Awareness Month in April,” Antekeier said. “We want to take the third Monday of April to have people come into the restaurant wearing a blue shirt to raise awareness.
“Whoever brings in a blue shirt and buys the meal can get a free milkshake. We want to host this at three In-N-Out Burger locations in Fontana, Rialto and Rancho Cucamonga. We’ll have students spread out to take pictures and post them with a hashtag for Child Abuse Awareness, In-N-Out and Exchange Club.”
Whether or not this plan goes through, Antekeier said child abuse awareness remains a focus and there are plans to raise money for it during the Fontana Days Festival.
“We also want to raise money for teddy bears to give to the police station for child abuse awareness,” Antekeier said. “We’ll raise money at the Fontana Days Festival, where you can dunk tank teachers. Hopefully, some will sign up and sacrifice their bodies for a good cause.”
For more information about the “A.C.E.” and “Youth of the Year” scholarships, visit exchangecluboffontana.org.
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