Scholarships

 High School Graduate Scholarships

The Kiwanis Club of Wellington continued an annual spring tradition and awarded three $1,000 scholarships to Wellington High School graduates from the Class of 2020. The awards were announced at the Wellington High graduation ceremonies May 31 and officially awarded following a special meeting conducted via Zoom on June 11.

 Jenna is the daughter of Joe and Amy Calfo. She was a four-year member of WHS Key Club including president her senior year. She played basketball, track and soccer and was a member of the Athletic Leadership Council. A member of the National Honor Society, she was a class officer, a member of the community service day committee and active with Students Against Destruction Decisions, Yearbook and Friends of Rachel. She plans to study early childhood education at Ashland University.

Grace is the daughter of Todd and Angela Dudziak. She was captain of the Lady Dukes basketball and soccer team, lettered in track and became the first woman to ever letter in football at WHS. Secretary of NHS, she was active in the Athletic Leadership Council, the Lorain County JVS National Technical Honor Society and the Principal Advisory Committee. She plans to study nursing at the University of Toledo.             

Alexis is the daughter of Ezra and Rebecca Starner. Valedictorian for the Class of 2020, she was active in NHS, soccer, cheerleading, track, junior class vice president and a member of the Athletic Leadership Council. She plans to major in biology at Ohio Northern University, following the pre-med track.          

Kindergarten Scholarships

We recently expanded our scholarship efforts by partnering with the Wellington Schools’ Endowment Fund to encourage parents of kindergartners to get an early start on college savings by enrolling in the Ohio Tuition Trust Authority’s College Advantage program. Each year, they provide up to a 25 percent match not to exceed $250 to each student whose parents contribute to the College Advantage program. If a parent puts in $1,000, the endowment contributes $250 into that student’s account. This program had been under-utilized but in the past three years nearly 40 students have had savings programs established under this program that is unique to only Wellington.  

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Annually, Wellington Kiwanis Club sponsors two students to the Hugh O’Brien Youth (HOBY) leadership conference at Ohio Northern University in Ada, Ohio.

A message from our 2019 representatives:

Thank you so much for giving us the opportunity to experience HOBY. It really was a life changing experience. From listening to amazing speakers, to coming up with ways to solve public problems, and spending time with new friends. It is such a great program for young leaders to grow and take back ideas to spread a positive message though out the school. We loved every minute of it. We hope we continue to send representatives to HOBY to grow the number of leaders in Wellington High School.
Thank you,
Cameron Brinker
Jill Laposky

The 2nd & 7 Foundation

The 2nd & 7 Foundation is a non-profit organization based in Columbus. Three former Ohio State University football players, Luke Fickell, Ryan Miller and Mike Vrabel started the foundation in 1999. Inspired by their involvement in various community outreach programs as student athletes, they decided to continue making a difference by promoting literacy and providing positive role models for children in central Ohio. The program was introduced to the Wellington Schools by the Wellington Kiwanis Club. Each month on a Friday morning, members of the Wellington High School Athletic Leadership Council greet students as they enter the school and then go to a second-grade classroom to read a story about the “Hog Mollies. “

Dukes Dollars

For four years now, Kiwanis Wellington Club has supported Duke Dollars. During the month of December the Westwood 4^th grade staff has a special incentive program with the students. The students earn “Duke Dollars” for good behavior and academics. Right before Christmas break they get to use this money at an auction to purchase items as presents for family members or themselves.