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The Rotary Club of Pine Bluff gave $30,000 Wednesday to the Arkansas Community Foundation to establish a community scholarship program for local students who plan to attend either Southeast Arkansas College or the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff.
Club president Laura Beth Shaner and secretary Owen McNulty presented the check to Lawrence Fikes of the Arkansas Community Foundation, which will manage the scholarship.
“We are so blessed to have this because this will generate a lot of income for students going to SEARK and UAPB,” Fikes said.
The scholarship money will remain in Jefferson County, Shaner and McNulty said, because recipients will need to be residents of the county and graduates of either Pine Bluff, Watson Chapel or White Hall high school.
“This way, because they manage scholarships all the time, this scholarship will stay in the community forever and help kids in the community forever,” McNulty said of the community foundation.
Eight organizations each received $1,875 from the Rotary Club on Wednesday during a luncheon at the Pine Bluff Country Club: Neighbor to Neighbor, Voices for Children, United Way of Southeast Arkansas, Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, Boys and Girls Club of Jefferson County, Jefferson Regional Foundation, Arts and Science Center for Southeast Arkansas and Challenger Link.
Shaner said the Rotary Club has given donations to organizations since its establishment in 1917.
“We want to continue to give back to the community year after year, so we have established this scholarship in hopes of helping the young people continue their education,” she said.
Also Wednesday, Glenn Freeman was awarded the Paul Harris Fellowship, established in memory of a Rotary member to honor those who have made contributions of at least $1,000 in their names to the Rotary Foundation.
“Beyond the dollars, it’s a symbol of appreciation and substantial service and commitment,” Shaner said.
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