Editor:

On Sunday, May 20, more than 65 RHS seniors received 140 local scholarships totaling over $316,000 from approximately 80 donors. It was an awesome event! The community support for our graduates should be commended, and the accomplishments of our graduating seniors should be celebrated.

The pride of the community, the school and teachers, the students and their families is very evident at this event. We as a Rhinelander community showed unity and support for our graduates and demonstrated our commitment to give for the good of our graduates to help start them out with a vote of confidence in a future that holds many uncertainties.

This event would not be possible without a lot of hard work and dedication of many. I would like to thank especially Lori Writz, Kim Swisher and Tim Howell for their unending energy, enthusiasm, organization and time commitment to this event. We owe them special thanks, as this was their first year in taking this event over, and they did an exceptional job. They truly demonstrated their commitment to the students, the community and this scholarship program. In addition to them, many others helped as well: Adam Matyska and Linda Goldsworthy, our MCs; and David Ditzler, assistant principal. All of the presenters/donors, as well as the Rhinelander Area Scholarship Foundation members made this event special. Others who provided special efforts are Cheryl Esslinger and Key Club members that served as ushers, Karen Fish and her FACE classes that organized and prepared our reception and Forth Floral that provided beautiful flowers and plants.

I am proud to say that I am part of such a giving community!

Kathy Richards-Bess, Rhinelander
President, Rhinelander Area Scholarship Foundation