30 students, one teacher honored at Rotary Scholars event

• Rotary Scholars

The 2012 Rotary Scholars are, front row from left, Ashley Bechen, Eric Bortnem, Anna Catalano, Kendra Cersosimo, Alison Day, Alexander Graves and Macie Harris; second row from left, Katherine Lazenby, Hannah Millar Torgersen, Reed Muehler, Kody Musick, Larissa Neugebauer, Alexis Olson and Tara Palmer; third row from left, Natalie Parks, Marina Powers, Ryan Quasney, Anna Rice, Alexis Rumbolz, Kathleen Serie and Andrea Sheppard Kauwalu; and back row from left, Jean Van Driel, Joseph Van Driel, Tucker Volesky, Abigail Yahne, Samantha Piehl and Jason Greenway. Not pictured are Jada Rice, Joshua Leland and Kelsey Bathke. Piehl attends Mitchell Christian High School. All the others attend Mitchell Senior High School. (Tom Lawrence/Republic)

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The Rotary Club of Mitchell honored 30 high school seniors at the 25th annual Rotary Scholars Recognition Banquet on Monday night at Dakota Wesleyan University.

The Carl Sprunger award for outstanding educator was awarded to Cheryle Aslesen, L.B. Williams Elementary School teacher. The award comes with a $250 grant thanks to a contribution from Tom and Charlys Dice.

The students represent the top 15 percent of Mitchell Christian High School and Mitchell Senior High School based on grade point averages throughout their high school career.

The Rotary Scholars were asked to write an essay based on the Rotary motto, “Service Above Self.” This motto is used to remind Rotarians that serving others in their business, professional and personal lives is more important than selfish endeavors.

This year, the Mitchell Rotary Club will present $375 scholarships to 28 of the students. Alexis Olson and Alison Day, whose high school careers and essays based on the Rotary motto best exemplified “Service Above Self,” receive $1,500 scholarships.

Aslesen was chosen from nominations submitted by students who have qualified as Rotary Scholars. Here are some of the comments on those nominations:

“Mrs. Aslesen always pushed us to do our best. Her unique teaching made concepts stick in your head.”

“As a senior in high school I believe that Mrs. Aslesen had the most effect on me as an individual. She always believed that every child had the potential to be whoever he wanted to be. Each opportunity in her class has been a cherished childhood moment.”

“Mrs. Aslesen introduced me to many different types of learning. I was fortunate to try many new things.”

The scholarships are made possible by the contributions of the members of the Mitchell Rotary Club as well as other sponsors.

Dakota Wesleyan University and Mitchell Technical Institute will match the scholarship awards for students who attend those institutions.

South Dakota Secretary of Education Melody Schopp was the guest speaker at the banquet.

Schopp started her career teaching in a country school and served as the state’s director of accreditation and teacher quality, deputy director and then interim secretary. She was appointed to her current position in April 2011.

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