Editor:

Thursday evening at the Colorado Mountain College Glenwood Center, Roaring Fork Rotary/Club Rotario hosted a scholarship banquet to award $11,500 to 13 local high school graduates and current CMC students, to go toward associate of arts, sciences and general studies degrees.

President Trinity Delgado praised Scholarship Committee Chair Yesenia Arreola and committee members Michael Carter, Klaus Kocher and Susie Meraz for reviewing 40 applications, interviewing candidates, and assessing need and merit to select the honorees. Ms. Delgado addressed the scholars, “At the same time you will be using your award, we as Rotarians will be entering into a year where the motto is, ‘Peace through Service.’ We truly believe in this motto. Club Rotario was founded nine years ago, and since its inception we have been committed to raising funds for students like you. This is why we do what we do.”

The geographically-balanced group featured Anahi Araiza (BHS), Yesenia Flores (GSHS), Sheija Binshaban, Vanessa Porras and Kenia Pinela (RFHS), plus eight returning CMC students: Nohemi Arredondo, Ana Gallardo, Ana Gaytan, Consuelo Gaytan, Fabiola Grajales, Gethzemani Grajales, Crisol Tellez, and José Mendoza-Turbin. The repeat-scholars underscored how prior recipients are continuing to live up to Club Rotario’s academic expectations.

Nohemi Arredondo inspired her fellow scholars by remarking, “Despite being discouraged by people telling me, ‘You are not good enough, you don’t speak English well, you are not smart enough,’ I always put forth my best efforts. Only I know what I have suffered by not seeing my parents for over 10 years. I will succeed, but not to prove anybody wrong. I will succeed for myself, my family, and all the people I can help in the future. Thank you, Club Rotario.”

Yesenia Arreola added, “It truly fills our hearts to see you all here today. This is the reason why we work so hard every year, for this day to come and see you receive these awards. We know they will make a difference in your college education.”

At a concurrent event at Basalt High School, I awarded BHS Senior Anahi Araiza her Club Rotario scholarship, which she accepted in person. Anahi exemplifies the legacy of multicultural excellence that generations of immigrants to the Roaring Fork Valley have worked so hard to make possible.

Club Rotario will fund 2013 scholars with its 10th Festival of the Americas Sunday, Aug. 26, at Sopris Park in Carbondale. The event features diverse live music, food and clothing vendors, nonprofit booths, a children’s area, a beer garden, and the 2012 Jackie Morales Awards for outstanding service to the immigrant community in four categories: educator, student, professional, and volunteer.

Jim Coombs
Public Relations Chair
Roaring Fork Rotary/Club Rotario
Glenwood Springs