Rotary Club of Brentwood awards college scholarships – Williamson Herald

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Updated: July 25, 2025 @ 10:45 am
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Six local high school students have been awarded scholarships by the Rotary Club of Brentwood. Thescholarships strengthen the Rotary Club’s strong commitment to Ravenwood, Brentwood and John Overton high schools.Allison Hoesel is a recent graduate of Brentwood High School (BHS) and the daugh…
One Generation Away (OneGenAway) is welcoming veteran nonprofit leader Cynthia Stielow as its new Chief Advancement officer and Marketing officer, a strategic move to strengthen the organization’s growing impact on food insecurity across the Southeast and beyond.
Six local high school students have been awarded scholarships by the Rotary Club of Brentwood. Thescholarships strengthen the Rotary Club’s strong commitment to Ravenwood, Brentwood and John Overton high schools.Allison Hoesel is a recent graduate of Brentwood High School (BHS) and the daugh…
One Generation Away (OneGenAway) is welcoming veteran nonprofit leader Cynthia Stielow as its new Chief Advancement officer and Marketing officer, a strategic move to strengthen the organization’s growing impact on food insecurity across the Southeast and beyond.
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From left are Stephen Hammers, President; Sibyl Buchanan, Scholarship Committee Co-Chair; Azariah Cherukara; Allison Hoesel; Peri Tovi; Nicole Fikejs; Mahdi Al Rubaye; Charles Grummond, Scholarship Committee

From left are Stephen Hammers, President; Sibyl Buchanan, Scholarship Committee Co-Chair; Azariah Cherukara; Allison Hoesel; Peri Tovi; Nicole Fikejs; Mahdi Al Rubaye; Charles Grummond, Scholarship Committee
Six local high school students have been awarded scholarships by the Rotary Club of Brentwood. Thescholarships strengthen the Rotary Club’s strong commitment to Ravenwood, Brentwood and John Overton high schools.
Allison Hoesel is a recent graduate of Brentwood High School (BHS) and the daughter of Gayle and MarkHoesel. She will receive $3,000 per year for her four years at Lipscomb University. While pursuing a rigorousacademic course load, Allison attained a 35 composite score on the ACT, was inducted into the NationalHonor Society, achieved the status of class Salutatorian, and was recognized as a National Merit Finalist.Her interest in business, specifically entrepreneurship, was sparked by the Williamson CountyEntrepreneurship and Innovation Center (EiC). Working with three of her peers, they created Custom Kicks,a shoe paint business. Allison held the position of Student Manager of the EiC during her senior year andserved as Vice President of the BHS Chapter of Best Buddies and Head Captain of the BHS Fellowship ofChristian Athletes. Actively involved with Grace Community Church, Allison went to Munich, Germany on amission trip. She is a graduate of Youth Leadership Brentwood and served as a delegate for the Tennessee Youth Leadership Council for the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association. Allison iscurrently interning with Visit Franklin (Williamson County Convention and Visitor’s Bureau). “The funds from this scholarship will help alleviate the financial burden of college; therefore, I will be able to spend less timeworrying about finances and will instead be able to invest deeper into my academics, friendships, faith, andother activities,” Allison said. “My future goal is to own my own business, and I’m so excited to grow in myknowledge of entrepreneurship and management in these next four years at Lipscomb University. Yet morethan that, I’m excited to grow as a person. Just as the Rotary Club’s values include fellowship, integrity,diversity, service, and leadership, I hope to embody these qualities as a student at Lipscomb. Because ofthis scholarship, I will be better equipped and have more time to practice each of these qualities, and I will forever be grateful for the support of the Rotary Club of Brentwood.”
Azariah Cherukara, son of Fiona and Philip Cherukara, will receive $3,000 per year for his four yearsof college at Belmont University. Recently graduating from Ravenwood High School (RHS), Azariah wasa member of the National Honor Society, Model UN and Youth in Government. At RHS,
he was Class President for three years, Captain of the Speech and Debate Team, and Tennessee HighSchool Speech and Drama League State Finalist. Azariah is an accomplished pianist and teacher affiliated with the National Guild Association, having received honors for his performances and invitedto perform at the Niswonger Performing Arts Center’s Honors Recital. Azariah is active at Brentwood Baptist Church, having worked as a Peer Group Leader at Church Camp and a volunteer for Vacation Bible School. While in high school, he worked for Pharmacy Care of Tennessee and did a researchinternship at Vanderbilt University in the Anesthesiology Department. “I am incredibly honored to have received this scholarship, and I am very grateful for the support it represents,” said Azariah. “This scholarship is invaluable to me as I pursue a degree in medicine. The Rotary Club of Brentwood’s immense dedication to our local area is aligned with myown path to become a pediatric neurologist and serve our community.”
Peri Tovi, daughter of Metin Tovi and graduate of John Overton High School, will also receive
$3,000 per year for her four years at Belmont University. At Overton, she was an active member of theNational Beta Club, Health Occupations Students for America Club (HOSA), and Science Olympiad.Peri has excelled in competitive academic environments, earning second place in a regionalpharmacology competition through HOSA. She served as the Founder and Vice President of the MuslimStudent Association Club and volunteered with the Overton Ambassador Program. Peri is active at theSalahadeen Center of Nashville where she has volunteered as a teacher’s assistant. “Receiving the Rotary Club of Brentwood Scholarship means more to me than just financial support. It represents acommunity’s belief in my potential and a reminder that I am not alone on this journey,” said Peri. “Assomeone who comes from an immigrant background and has worked hard to overcome challenges, thisscholarship is a powerful encouragement to keep pushing forward. It shows me that there are peoplewho care about students like me and want to invest in our future. It allows me to focus more on mystudies and less on the financial burden, and for that, I am deeply grateful. After college, my long-termgoal is to become a dentist and serve underrepresented communities. I am passionate about makingquality dental care accessible and helping patients feel confident in their smiles. I hope to eventuallyopen a clinic that not only provides affordable services but also educates people about oral health. Withthe support of this scholarship, I am one step closer to reaching that goal and giving back to the verycommunities that have helped shape me.”
For the third year, the Rotary Club of Brentwood has awarded the Destin Legieza Memorial Scholarshiphonoring the memory of Brentwood Police Officer Destin Legieza, who lost his life in 2020 while on duty.This scholarship is for a student who will attend Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU) to study LawEnforcement or Criminal Justice. This year the recipient is Nicole Fikejs, the daughter of Beth Fikejs. A graduate of Centennial High School in 2022 and Columbia
State Community College in 2024, Nicole will receive $2,000 a year to complete her studies at MTSU.While being employed in retail positions since graduating high school, she has demonstrated outstanding academic performance by maintaining Dean’s list status during her college career. “It iswith great honor that I accept the Destin Legieza Memorial Scholarship,” Nicole said. “This scholarshipcontinues to support the mission that Destin Legieza had to protect and serve the community in which helived. It is clear that Officer Legieza had a tremendous impact on his community, and it is my goal aftercollege to start a career in which I can make an impact on the community. This scholarship will provideimmense support for me as I pursue my bachelor’s degree in criminal justice and also serves as recognition that my dedication and hard work I have put into my education has paid off.”
Additionally, the Rotary Club of Brentwood sponsors the local Interact Clubs at John Overton HighSchool and Brentwood High School. Interact is a Rotary-sponsored service club that gives
young people Ages 12 to 18, who want to connect with others in their community or school, an opportunity to participate in fun and meaningful service projects while developing leadership skills andmeeting new friends. This year John Overton High School Senior Mahdi Al Rubaye and Brentwood HighSchool Senior Arshia Malhotra will be awarded a $1,000 scholarship in recognition of their service asInteract Club Presidents and for their service to Rotary principles. “Leading the Interact Club taught me that true leadership isn’t about giving orders-it’s about inspiring action, building community, and creatingchange one service project at a time,” said Mahdi. Arshia will be attending Middle Tennessee StateUniversity as part of the Medical School Early Acceptance Program (MSEAP)-an accelerated medicalschool program for seven years (three years of undergraduate studies and four years of medical school).”Serving as President of Brentwood High School’s Interact Club has given me a wide range of meaningfulexperiences that I know will benefit me in the future,” said Arshia. “From connecting with others whoshare a passion for service above self to participating in numerous volunteer events, I’ve grown as aleader both within my school and in the community. I look forward to finding new ways to serve in college-and possibly even getting involved with the Rotaract Club on campus!”
The Rotary Club of Brentwood’s charitable arm, the Brentwood Rotary Club Charitable Foundation (BRCCF) Chairman, Linas Sudzius, said, “We are very proud of the students and grateful that we havethe opportunity to help them continue their academic journey.”
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