Front Royal Rotary uses golf to fund scholarships for county students

The Rotary Club of Front Royal is embarked on two tracks, involving golf and education, this month and next. The tracks represent money in, money out.

At its regular meeting on Friday, May 26, two graduating high school students, as yet not publicly identified, will share $8,000 in scholarship money. That money, along with almost $120,000 raised over the previous 19 years, came from annual Rotary golf tournaments launched in 1999 by longtime Front Royal Rotarian Eric Adamson.

This year’s golf event is on the Blue Ridge Shadows course on Route 522, Thursday, June 22, 1 p.m. The aim is to raise $15,000, $2,000 more than last year.

The two scholarship winners to be announced next week bring to 52 the number of Warren County exemplary students who have received Rotary scholarship awards. Scholarship committee chairman Dr. Robert Melvedt said: “Students who have received (these) awards are now doctors, nurses, teachers, counselors, writers and a minister, among others. (All) are contributing to our well being, and all that I have spoken to, every year after the award, still speak highly of Rotary and the help we gave them.”

Meltvedt has stayed in contact with many of the awardees over the years and annually reports on their academic and professional progress.

This year’s Golf Tournament Chairman Cal Coolidge – want to sponsor a hole? See Cal’s contact info near end of story. Courtesy Photo

Meanwhile, Cal Coolidge, this year’s Golf Tournament chairman, said his committee (Larry Adkins, Robin Richardson, Jan Kidd and Dale Davis) is “greatly aided” by the generosity of local businesses, including main sponsor, Sysco, and other major contributors including Malloy Toyota, Parson’s Kia and Marlow Motors.

Adkins also is beating the drum for individual sponsors, and you don’t have to play golf or be a member of Rotary to contribute.

For just $100 you can be an individual “hole” sponsor. Email your pledge to Coolidge calcoolidge27@yahoo.com or Adkins leadkins@comcast.net and your tax write off-able donation will, in its entirely, help fund college education costs for deserving Warren County students, any one of which, who knows, may be your doctor, nurse, teacher, counselor or minister in future years.

(Malcolm Barr Sr., a retired journalist, is a member of the Rotary Club of Front Royal)