Beesley, Keitel Rotary Scholarship Award Recipients

(FROM LEFT: ROTARY SCHOLARSHIP COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN JIM EDER, BRAD BEESLEY, ALEX BEESLEY, ZACH KEITEL, KAL KEITEL AND {in front} RENEE KEITEL)

Barrett A. "Alex" Beesley of St. Anthony High School and Zachary D. Keitel 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 30.

This marks the 30th year of the Rotary Club's annual scholarship program, which began in 1989. With the presentation of this year's two scholarships, the club has awarded a total of $50,000 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 "Is It the Truth?"

Beesley, who ranked third in his class at St. Anthony High School with a 3.97 GPA, will attend Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia, where he plans to major in Biochemistry in preparation for medical school. He is an Illinois State Scholar, a three-year member of the Society for Academic Achievement, and a member of the National Honor Society. He also was named to the IHSA All-State Academic Team.

Beesley was member of St. Anthony's WYSE (Worldwide Youth in Science and Engineering) team, for which he won first place in Chemistry and second place in Math at regionals in 2017, and first place in Biology both at regionals and at sectionals in 2018. He and his teammates finished in fourth place at State this year.

In addition to his academic achievements, Beesley lettered in both basketball and soccer for the Bulldogs for four years. As a junior, he started for the 2017 Illinois State Class 1A boys basketball championship team. As a sophomore and as a senior, he was a member of the IHSA regional champion soccer team. As a freshman, he also qualified for State in the 4X800 meter relay team in track.

Beesley also was a member of the SAHS Student Council for four years, serving as an officer in his junior year and as president in his senior year. 

He is the son of Bradley and Cynthia Beesley.

Keitel ranked 12th in his class at Effingham High School with a 3.96 GPA. He will be attending Wichita State University in Wichita, Kansas to pursue a bachelor's degree in Engineering. His goal is to work for NASA one day.

Keitel was recognized by the Society for Academic Achievement as a sophomore and by the National Society of High School Scholars as a junior and as a senior. He also was named to the Effingham High School Academic Hall of Fame for all four years.

In addition to his academic achievements, Keitel engaged in both music and athletics at EHS. He was a member of the Red Regiment Marching Band, which he played Baritone and Tenor Saxophone, and he was a section leader of the wind ensemble, which is the honors band. He lettered in wrestling as a sophomore, junior and senior, was named defensive MVP as a junior and as a senior, and was selected as team captain as a senior. He also lettered in soccer in his junior and senior years, and he captained the soccer team as a senior.

Keitel was a member of the Effingham High School Student Council for four years, and served as treasurer of his class as a sophomore. In addition to school sports, he competed in Trampoline, Double-Mini Trampoline, and Power Tumbling for USA Gymnastics and USTA (United States Trampoline Association). Keitel has been a member of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes and St. John's Lutheran Church Youth Group throughout high school.

He is the son of Kal and Renee Keitel.