2014 Annual Chatham High School Kiwanis Scholarship Winners Announced

Year 2014 Chatham Kiwanis Scholarship winners Keri Cronin (left) and Samantha O’Brien (right) were announced by Kiwanis President John Eyre at the May 27 breakfast meeting held at Charlie Brown’s. They will also be recognized at the June 20 CHS graduation ceremony as this year’s winners of $8,000 Kiwanis Chatham High School scholarships. Scholarship winners receive $2,000 per year for four years.

2012 Annual Chatham High School Kiwanis Scholarship Winners Announced

Year-2012 Chatham Kiwanis Scholarship winners Liz Hyde (left) and Gianna Strand (center) were introduced by Kiwanis Club President Mary Anne Maloney at the May 29 Kiwanis breakfast meeting. They will also be recognized at the June 21 CHS graduation ceremony as this year’s winners of $8,000 Kiwanis Chatham High School scholarships. Scholarship winners receive $2,000 per year for four years.

Chatham High School Student Gianna Rose Strand Wins Key Club Scholarship

At the 2012 New Jersey Key Club District Convention (DCON), the winners of the annual New Jersey Key Club Scholarships were announced. Gianna Rose Strand, the 2011-12 President of the Chatham High School Key Club, was awarded one of the 18 scholarships.

The Dr. George McCrossan Memorial Scholarship was created to honor Dr. George McCrossan, who was a past Kiwanis Governor and Key Club Financial Counselor.  This scholarship was the first New Jersey Key Club Scholarship ever established.  This $2000 scholarship will be granted to a member of the Chatham Key Club, Gianna Rose Strand.

The Chatham-Madison Kiwanis Club sponsors the Chatham High School Key Club.

New Jersey Key Club members can apply for scholarships next year by visiting the website: http://njkeyclub.org/index.html  Then click on District Convention and click on the Scholarships Packet to download an application.

October 4 Kiwanis Meeting Program: Dick Haenschen spoke about the Chatham Kiwanis Scholarship Fund

Dick Haenschen (Left) was introduced by Past President Rich Behling. Dick has been responsible for managing the CHS Scholarship Program. Every year the club gives scholarships to two graduating CHS seniors. Years ago, a member left in his will to the club a large amount of money which was invested in a 501(c)(3) foundation. This foundation funds the scholarship under the guidelines used when the foundation was established. Dick gave members information to consider as the club plans for the future of the scholarships.

2011 Annual Chatham High School Kiwanis Scholarship Winners Announced

Year-2011 Chatham Kiwanis Scholarship winners Annie Monson (left) and Christina Kim (right) were introduced by Kiwanis Club President Dick Plambeck at the May 31 Kiwanis breakfast meeting. They will also be recognized at the June 24 CHS graduation ceremony as this year’s winners of $8,000 Kiwanis Chatham High School scholarships. Students receive $2,000 per year for four years.

Musician Jerry Vezza Welcomed at Chatham-Madison Kiwanis Meeting

Nancy Boucher introduced Jerry Vezza, a well-known Madison musician. Several years ago, Madison Kiwanis had an annual fundraiser called “all that Jazz” at Shanghai Jazz in Madison. Jerry Vezza was very kind to the club and helped by performing at the fundraiser. He also brought MHS students to the fundraiser. Because of his kindness, the Madison Kiwanis Club named a music scholarship after him. The scholarship award is given to a graduating Madison High School music student. Jerry made the scholarship presentation last year and will make it again this year on June 16 at the MHS awards ceremony held on the campus of Fairleigh Dickinson University.

Scholarship Winners Meghan Ryan and Sarah Simonson Honored at August 17, 2010 Kiwanis Meeting

President Rich Behling introduced Chatham High School Kiwanis Scholarship winners Meghan Murray and Sarah Simonson. They thanked the club for making the scholarships available to CHS graduates and discussed their Fall college plans. Meghan, in the center in the photo, is attending Yale University where she will study economics and sociology. Sarah, on the right, is attending NYU where she will study business and political economy.

Erin Boehmer Overviewed the University of Virginia “Water and Health in Limpopo” (WHIL) Project in South Africa at Kiwanis July 20 Meeting

Project site is about six hours drive north of Johannesburg. UVA teams had worked in two villages (Tshapasha and Tshibvumo) for a few years and extensive planning was done for this year’s May through July trip to the South African site. A first water filtration system was built earlier and this team’s goal was to expand the water filter.

Erin enjoyed working with South African students in the local school. Using a microscope, she showed students that coli form bacteria was present in the drinking water. South African students are enthusiastic and will do anything to please their teachers. In class they raise their hands and snap their fingers to be called on by their teacher.

Working with people in the villages was really a challenge. The “Chief” UVA had been working with in the past was actually a stand-in Chief. A new Chief came to power and he did not get along with the stand-in Chief (whose back yard was the site of the first water filter). Existing plans made with the agreement of the stand-in Chief had to be replaced with new plans developed on the spot.

There is no electricity or Internet in the villages. Most resources are non-existent. People are not literate. Getting people to understand and believe that they can do better was difficult. Communications with the villagers was a problem. UVA team members wanted to have community meetings with villagers but Chiefs prefer to relay information to villagers themselves. Villagers wouldn’t show up for UVA team communications meetings. To overcome this, the team built a message board to improve communications.

This year’s addition to the water filter was completed. The UVA water filtration project will continue for the next three years. Lessons from the trip will be evaluated and be used to determine how to help the villagers get what they need. Click on “The Water and Health in Limpopo Report” (a Blog) to learn more about this project. Photo shows Kiwanis President Rich Behling introducing Erin Boehmer.

Chatham Kiwanis selects Meghan Murray, Sarah Simonson as 2010 scholarship winners

In June, The Kiwanis Club of The Chathams awarded college scholarships to Meghan Murray and Sarah Simonson, Chatham High School Class of 2010. The awards were announced at the June 22 graduation ceremony.

With these awards, the Club continues a tradition of educational awards that it began in 1978. Each year, the club selects two award winners based on academic standing, leadership, good citizenship and participation in school and community activities. The Club awards each scholar $8,000, spread over four years of undergraduate education. The Club encourages 2011 Chatham High School seniors to apply with the school’s counseling department for next year’s Chatham Kiwanis scholarships.

This year, the Club distributes $16,000 to all eight of its scholars. Active recipients are Murray and Simonson who will begin their college careers this fall; rising college sophomores and 2009 winners Erin Boehmer at University of Virginia and Kara Ryan at Notre Dame University; rising juniors and 2008 winners Linsey Hyde at Georgetown University and Kevin Tobia at Rutgers University; and rising seniors and 2007 winners Alison Panosian at Bryn Mawr College and Melissa Villars at Carleton College.

Dick Haenschen, chairman of the seven-member Chatham Kiwanis Scholarship selection committee, said that many applicants were highly qualified and the selection was very difficult. He observed that more applications than usual were submitted this year, perhaps reflecting the current difficult economic conditions. He also said “I am impressed at how many students at Chatham High School excel at their academics and find time for many excellent extracurricular activities.”

Meghan Murray was secretary and vice-president of the Key Club, which is a high school national service club sponsored by Kiwanis. She has been a religious education teacher and leader in her church. In the Pep Club she was the 2008 Homecoming Chair. She lettered all four years in lacrosse, was Captain of the team and led the team to two state championships. She taught lacrosse classes. Her many lacrosse awards include the CHS Scholar/Athlete Award for spring 2010. She was named to lacrosse New Jerey State First Team in New Jersey newspapers and was named two times high School All-American. She was also given the Anthony Mack Sportsmanship Award.  She worked as Kids Camp counselor at Noe Pond Club during the summer. Murray is interested in business management and biology and will continue her education at Yale University. Photo taken at CHS Awards Assembly on June 4.

Sarah Simonson was also active in Key Club, serving as treasurer. She was student government treasurer for two years and president of the Spanish Club. She was Senior Editor of the Year Book Club. She volunteered frequently and was tutor and mentor of Newark children with SCEEP, Suburban Cultural Educational Enrichment Program. She volunteered one summer at Drew University Neuroscience lab. She enjoys music and was a section leader in the CHS orchestra. She enjoys baking and participated in many bake sales. She has an interest in international business and plans to attend New York University. Photo taken at CHS Awards Assembly on June 4.