Oxford Women’s Club handed out a total of $5,000 in scholarships to five deserving area high school seniors May 21 at the Addison home of club President Cookie Devine.
Melissa Scott, Kimberly Graham, Susan Smale, Elizabeth Banachowski and Krystal Tighe each received $1,000 checks from the 71-year-old women’s group to put toward their future educations.
This year’s winning candidates were chosen from a field of 30 applicants.
Over the last 12 years, Women’s Club has handed out approximately $37,500 in scholarships to Oxford area students.
Fund-raising events such as the annual fall fashion show at Addison Oaks and the sale of cedar roping during the holiday season generate the club’s scholarship fund.
Here’s how each student plans to use their scholarship money?
Scott, an Oxford High School student from Leonard, plans to use her scholarship to attend Oakland University where she will focus on obtaining a double major in English and History with a minor in Women’s Studies.
After college, Scott plans to be a high school history teacher and a novelist.
‘My goal is not to be the most ‘popular? teacher, it is to be the teacher that my students remember because they learned from being in my classroom,? she wrote in her scholarship application. ‘I will not only touch the lives of the children that I teach through the classroom, I will be a positive role model as well. I am a highly moral person and I make decisions based on my morality and values, not what is popular.?
Scott credits her AP History teacher, Matt Wandrie, with influencing her decision to become a teacher.
‘He is the best teacher that I have ever had hands down,? she wrote.
Graham, an OHS senior from Oxford, plans to use her scholarship to attend the Grand Rapids-based Aquinas College, after which she wishes to enter medical school.
Being a Pediatric Neurologist is what Graham plans to do in life and she has television to thank for it.
‘As a smal child, I remember watching teen ‘Doogie Howser,? on television, saving people’s lives and I, the intrigued little kid that I was, got it stuck in my head that I could do that too,? she wrote. ‘Later at about the age of 12, I was watching ‘Operation? on (The Learning Channel). A Pediatric Neurosurgeon removed a tumor from a 5-year-old girl’s head and she made a full recovery. After that show, I turned to my mom and told her that is what I wanted to do.?
Susan Smale, an Oxford girl who attends the International Academy in Rochester, plans to use her scholarship money to double major in Theater and Communications and minor in music.
‘Within five years I plan on becoming an accomplished vocalist, who can accompany herself by way of piano and guitar,? she wrote. ‘I will choose a direct path to pursue in theatre. Right now, I love all aspects, and my goal is to find my place in theatre and start working toward mastering that area within the year.?
Smale hopes to someday give something back to her hometown of Oxford.
‘I would like to create some sort of program for the community where kids and/or teens can come to meet friends and learn something,? she wrote. Knowing myself, it will probably involve something along the lines of performance. Oxford does not have a community theatre, and families, like mine, are often driving between 30 and 45 minutes to find one. . .Music and theatre mean a lot to me, and I would like to give some of that back to my community, my hometown family.?
Banachowski, an OHS senior from Oxford, plans to use her scholarship to attend the University of Michigan, College of Engineering, to pursue a degree in engineering. Eventually, she would like to obtain a Masters or Ph.D. degree in biomedical engineering.
She has chosen the field of biomedical engineering for a career because it will allow her to ‘help humans in an entirely new way that doctors cannot.?
Tighe, an OHS senior from Rochester, plans to use her scholarship to attend Wayne State University where she will major in biology and minor in chemistry. She then plans to attend Michigan State University to attend the Pre-Vet program there.
‘I hope to constibute to my community in the future by opening a verterinary clinic,? she wrote. ‘I would be able to care for animals, which is my future goal. I feel that animals are important to our society and need quality health care. By providing these services I will be able to contribute to human and animal communities
‘I see animals as people like us,? Tighe wrote. ‘They are companions and family members.?