Richards, Knight Receive Rotary Scholarship Awards

(FROM LEFT, ALICE KNIGHT, PHIL KNIGHT, KATE RICHARDS, JULIE RICHARDS, JEFF RICHARDS AND NOON ROTARY SCHOLARSHIP COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN JIM EDER)

Mary K. (Kate) Richards of St. Anthony High School and Phillip C. Knight of Effingham High School each received a $1,000 college scholarship from the Effingham Noon Rotary Club.  The awards were presented at the club's meeting on May 21.  This marks the 26th anniversary of the Noon Rotary's annual scholarship program, which began in 1989.  With the presentation of this year's two scholarships, the club has awarded a total of $42,000 since the program's inception.

The scholarship recipients are selected each year by a committee of club members, based upon the following criteria: scholastic ability, extra-curricular activities, activities outside of school, honors and awards, and a 750-word essay.  This year's essay topic was "I Have a Dream".

Richards, who ranks fifth in her class at St. Anthony with a 3.87 GPA, will attend Butler University, where she plans to major in communication sciences and disorders, with a minor in Spanish.  She is an Illinois State Scholar, and was a member of St. Anthony High School's WYSE (Worldwide Youth in Science and Engineering) team.  She also served as secretary of the National Honor Society, as secretary and president of her class, and as a Student Council representative and officer.

Richards lettered in both basketball and softball all four years, and was captain of the SAHS girls' basketball team in her senior year.  She also was a four-year member of the chorus and the fine arts club, and she performed in the school musical each year.

In addition to her school activities, Richards served as a senior leader in the KAIROS program and as chairperson of Campus Ministry, as well as volunteering for Catholic Charities, Special Olympics, and various church projects.  She is the daughter of Jeff and Julie Richards.

Knight, who ranked 17th in his class of 185 students at Effingham High School with a 3.87 GPA, will attend the University of Illinois, where he hopes to major in mechanical engineering.  He is an Illinois State Scholar and a member of the EHS Academic Hall of Fame.  He also was a member of the National Honor Society and Effingham High School's WYSE team.

Knight lettered in both soccer and basketball all four years.  He was captain and MVP of the soccer team, and was named best defensive player of the basketball team in his senior year.

In addition to his school activities, Knight has been very active in his church's summer youth programs, including attending the National Youth Gathering in New Orleans in 2010, the Servant Event in Henning, Minnesota in 2011, the Servant Evant in Copper Hill, Tennessee in 2012, and the National Youth Gathering in San Antonio, Texas in 2013.  He also worked with Operation Blessing in the tornado cleanup in Harrisburg in the spring of 2012.  Knight is the son of Keith and Alice Knight.

The Effingham Noon Rotary Club's scholarship fund is maintained from the contributions of the club's members, for the purpose of honoring and encouraging the scholastic achievements, extra-curricular activities and civic accomplishments of the students of Effingham High School and St. Anthony High School.