Tuesday, June 5, 2012

Chamber Awards 2012 Education Partnership Scholarships


One of the really fun things we do at the Mount Vernon-Lee Chamber of Commerce is to provide scholarships for local graduating high school seniors.
Recipients of the 2012 Education Partnership Scholarships were announced Thursday by the Chamber of Commerce at a reception hosted by Collingwood Library & Museum and were congratulated by Dan Storck, Mount Vernon representative to the Fairfax County Public Schools.
Nine high school students were recognized and awarded scholarships.  The scholarship recipients are Ian McKellips and Valerie Manu, Mount Vernon High School; Benjamin Dougherty, Thomas A. Edison High School; Abigail Jacobs and Sarah Jane Underwood, West Potomac High School; Joseph Fitzsimmons and Rachelle Powell, Hayfield Secondary School; Erika Saravia, Bryant Alternative High School; and Katherine Pfleeger, The Madeira School.
"The Mount Vernon-Lee Chamber of Commerce feels very strongly that an investment in education looks to the future with an eye on improving individual lives, our workforce, and our community,” said Barbara Doyle, Chamber President.
“Providing these scholarships helps prepare future business and community leaders,” Doyle said.  Since 1997, the Mount Vernon-Lee Chamber of Commerce has awarded more than $112,000.00 in scholarships to local students. 
Receiving the Jeff Todd Memorial Scholarship was Erika Saravia from Bryant High School.  Jeff Todd was a former chairman of the chamber of commerce and owner of the Roy Roger Restaurants in the area.  He had a great love for the schools and students and did all he could to support the schools.  His lovely wife, Becky, carries on that tradition.  Many friends and businesses contributed to establish this memorial scholarship.
 The commitment the chamber makes to ensure scholarships each year is extraordinary.  It absolutely amazes me that our members volunteer and contribute to make these scholarships possible.  We all recognize that the youth are the future, and these scholarships are an investment in the future of our community.