Rotary Scholar

Annually the club awards scholarships to deserving seniors at MDI High School, who are planning to go on to higher education. The recipient of our scholarships have proven the most outstanding examples of the Rotary motto, "Service Above Self."  In order to receive the scholarship a student must have served his or her community by volunteering in some capacity...

Lindsey Galyn Leiser of Bar Harbor is the daughter of Richard and Gail Leiser, and will be attending Saint Anselm College.  She is planning on majoring in secondary education. Lindsey's extra curricular activities include, peer Mediation 12th grade, Student Mentor to underclassmen 12th grade, and year book editor 12th grade.  She earned the following special honors: Academic achievement 2001-2002, 2002-2003; YWCA young woman of the year award recipient 2003.  Her community activities include: Big Sister with Big Brothers Big Sisters, 2001-2002 & 2002-2003; Member of Saint Saviour's Episcopal Church Study and Search Committee 2001-2003; Bar Harbor Food Pantry Volunteer 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003; People to People Student Ambassador to Australia and New Zealand summer of 2000; Carol Dyer Annual Luminary Evening, local American Cancer Society fundraiser, 2002, 2003.

In Lindsey's own words, "Throughout my High School career I have managed to participate in a variety of different activities in which I have the opportunity to help others, and where my actions made a difference in both my life and the lives of others.  Knowing that I have done things that have helped both people in both my local community and in places outside of MDI is the greatest thing gained by volunteering your skills and helping others."

Meghan Frederick of Lamoine plans on attending Sarah Lawrence College, and studying Dance and Hispanic Studies.  Her community activities include: Volunteer with the Emmaus center in Ellsworth; a part of Student Leadership and Peer Mediation; involved in the yearly AIDS day presentations.  In her junior year was accepted to the Ecuador field studies program.  She is and has been a volunteer with Island Connections -- currently an average of 4 days a week.  According to Meghan, the best thing about working with Island Connections "has been the friendships I've made with people outside of my age group.  It is wonderful to make friends with the people that you are helping and to see them genuinely thankful."

In her own words, Meghan says, "I believe that community service itself is the manifestation of the Rotary Motto.  When I have volunteered I have been trying to benefit the people at the Emmaus Center or those with AIDS through my work of pledge hours.  The entire Ecuador Field Studies trip was about building friendships across a continent, across a language barrier, and across the "poverty line".  Looking back I have, without realizing it, lived by the "Four Way Test" because I have always tried to keep truth, compassion, action and friendship at the top of my priorities".

Former Winners

2001-2002:
Anne Hewitt (Bar Harbor)
Heidi Walls (Bar Harbor)

2000-2001:
Rachel Henry (Southwest Harbor)

1999-2000:
Helen O'Donnell (Mt. Desert)

1998-1999:
Sara Ruth Skiff (Bar Harbor)

1997-1998:
Anna Marnik (Mt. Desert)

1996-1997:
Meredith Doyle (Mt. Desert)

1995-1996:
Erica Harper (Bar Harbor)

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