Front Royal Rotary gives students a turn for awards – $20,000-worth!

At the Rotary Club of Front Royal’s regular meeting Friday, May 12, four students from two local high schools received scholarships for “Student of the Year” awards totaling $20,000.

The previous week, Rotary, as part of its contribution to excellence in education, honored 11 “Teachers of the Year” – last Friday, it was the kids’ turn!

The 2023 Rotary Scholarship Committee, headed by former Warren County Schools Superintendent Pam McInnis, with committee members Michelle Napier and Kim Lucas, nominated three Skyline High students: Samuel “Sam” Barber, Jamie Kelly, and Victoria “Tori” Novak, and one from Randolph-Macon Academy, Payton Sullivan.

The four ‘Students of the Year’ line up for photos with Rotary President Lori Glascock, white top, and others. In order they appear below, scholarship recipients are Jamie Kelly, Payton Sullivan, Sam Barber, and ‘Tori’ Novak. Courtesy Photos FR Rotary

Barber plans to move on to Shenandoah University to major in mechanical engineering; Kelly goes to Potomac State College, then transfers to West Virginia University to major in sports medicine and early childhood education; Novak to Virginia Tech to major in biological science; and Sullivan to the University of South Florida for a major in science.

The Rotary scholarship program began 24 years ago. To date, it has raised $235,000, thus providing some 75 outstanding students in public and private schools in Warren County with generous checks to further their education.