LIMA, OH (WLIO) - The Lima Exchange Club presented scholarships to students from every corner of Allen County.
13 students from 13 different area schools were awarded $300 scholarships for receiving the club's "Youth of the Month" honor in the past year. Each of these finalists was then asked to write an essay on the topic of increased diversity and inclusion, and the impact it has on themselves and other students. The essays were graded anonymously, and the student behind the top essay was awarded "Youth of the Year" and an additional $500 scholarship. This year, that title belongs to Lima Senior's Hailey Hahn, a tri-sport athlete who hopes to run her own welding business one day.
"The pros and cons that come with all these initiatives that are being pushed, I have personally witnessed a lot of positive sides of this with all my friendships and my friend circle, but there are definitely some drawbacks that can come from it," Hahn said about her essay's message. Â
Hahn's essay will now be submitted to compete against the youth of the year winners from other Ohio and West Virginia Exchange Clubs.
"She'll go to the district competition from here, has the potential at that point to win $1,000, and then if she wins there she has the potential to get into some really serious money at the national level with $15,000," explained Greg Sowinski, president of the Lima Exchange Club.
Here is the complete list of students honored today with certificates and $300.00 scholarship checks:
Allen East High School – Devan Foster
Apollo Career Center – Analese Hannah
Bath High School – Madison Ripley
Bluffton High School – Caitlyn Couch
Delphos Jefferson High School – Alyvia Lindeman
Delphos St. John’s High School – Elizabeth Gable
Elida High School – Connor Smith
Lima Central Catholic High School – Caitlyn Purvenas
Lima Senior High School – Hailey Hahn
Lima Temple Christian High School – Dawson Clay
Perry High School – Kiya Manley
Shawnee High School – Shashank Chanamolu
Spencerville High School – Quincey Baumgartner
