Editor,
On Sunday, May 20, the annual Rhinelander Area Scholarship Awards Ceremony was held during which 87 Rhinelander High School seniors received 188 local scholarships totaling $352,200 from approximately 100 different 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! It’s amazing to see the community, school, teachers, students, and their families come together to show unity and support for our graduates, and to demonstrate a commitment to starting our graduates out with a vote of confidence in a future that holds many uncertainties.

This event would not be possible without an immense amount of hard work and dedication of many. I would like to thank especially our emcees, Mischell Fryar and Linda Goldsworthy, as well as RHS principal Shane Dornfeld and interim assistant principal Timothy Howell. Many others also provided special services; Denise Zalewski and her Key Club members served as ushers; Jane Walkowski assisted us in getting our programs printed; Betsey Perkins and her students from her ProStart classes provided the treats for the post-ceremony reception; Forth Floral provided beautiful flowers and plants; and RHS staff members served on various scholarship committees. Without the efforts from all of these people, we could not have held the event.

The Rhinelander Area Scholarship Foundation is a non-profit organization that raises funds year round to make education beyond high school a reality for Rhinelander High School graduates. The volunteer board of directors is dedicated to this cause and they are a big part of the success of the Rhinelander Community Scholarship Award Ceremony. My thanks to our officers, Vice President Tracey Barnes, Treasurer Randy Beard, Secretary Jeanne Stephens; and board members, Braden Bayne Allison, Amy Cirilli, Nick Cirilli, Mary DeNamur, Cheryl Esslinger, Tracy Hartman, Julie Holperin, Jennifer Labs, Harlan Larson, Dave Mannikko, John O’Melia, Kathy Richards-Bess, Debbie Rinaldi, Jessica Schiek, Deb Straus, Kelsey Thompson and John Zenk. I am proud to say I am part of such a giving community!

Jennifer Taege
President, Rhinelander Area Scholarship Foundation