April 20, 2007

Putnam Rotary today announced a scholarship designated for students not otherwise eligible for financial assistance.

"This award is intended for persons who do not qualify for aid, and those who are unable to compete for traditional grants and student loans," said Bonnie M. Prisk, chair for the Rotary group which set the guidelines for the new scholarship.

Prisk is director of the Teays Valley Regional Center for Marshall University, and serves on the Education Committee of the Putnam County Chamber of Commerce.

While there may be some questions as to eligibility, the new scholarship has been designed along the lines followed for several years by a private assistance grant given by Rotarian Laberta Salamacha.

"Identification of eligible persons would not be a problem," she said.

The recipient of the scholarship would not be a Rotarian or a member of the family of a Rotary member.

While the initial stipend would be $2,000.00, the award will be indefinite as to term or degree of support.

"Persons holding the scholarship, in an academic sense, would be 'adopted' by Putnam Rotary," said Prisk.

"We would work with them over time and ask for reports on their learning progress."

The new scholarship program represents a departure from past awards which have gone to the "Most Valuable" in each high school in the county.

"But those students usually had other opportunities for assistance," says Salamacha. "This award would be larger than those given in the past, and it would go to scholars who are able to demonstrate a need but are not able to qualify for the traditional assistance."