2024 Noon Rotary Scholarship Recipients Announced

(ALLISON GEEN AND SPENCER FOX)

Spencer Fox, a 2024 graduate of Effingham High School, and Allison Geen, a 2024 graduate of St. Anthony High School, are this year’s recipients of the Effingham Noon Rotary Club’s Scholarship Award.

Fox was the Senior Class President, an Illinois State Scholar, a member of the National Honor Society, the Society of Academic Achievement, Fellowship of Christian Athletes and an Effingham County Chamber Up & Coming Leader Awardee. Spencer will continue his education at Elmhurst University where he will major in exercise science and pre-med with the goal to attend medical school and become an orthopedic surgeon. In addition to his academic success, Spencer was active in Football, Basketball, and Baseball, participated in Health Occupations and served in many other student activities. Outside of school Spencer is a member of Extreme Elite traveling baseball team, works at Effingham Park District on the maintenance crew and as an umpire. He also works at Adhatters and is a self-employed umpire. Spencer is the son of Jason and Jennifer Fox.

Geen was a senior class officer, an Illinois State Scholar, a member of the National Honor Society and participated in student council, track and 2 field and basketball. She will attend the University of Missouri and study biology. In addition to her academic success, she was on the 3rd place IHSA State golf team and placed 6th in pole vault at the IHSA state track meet. Outside of school, Allison is groundskeeper and cleans air filters at St. Anthony Grade School, volunteers at Hope for Horses, gives pole vault lessons and works at Glik’s and Gopher’s Grill. She is the daughter of Art and Sarah Geen.

The students were honored at the May 22 Effingham Noon Rotary Club meeting. Noon Rotary Club’s annual scholarship program began in 1989 and has awarded $61,000 in scholarships. The $1000.00 scholarships are offered to eligible college bound graduating students from the city’s two high schools. The scholarship recipients are selected each year 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 “How I Will Be a Positive Influence during these Turbulent Times”.