Community partners of Utica Community Schools have awarded 39 graduating seniors with a scholarship ranging between $500 to $1,500 to use towards their post-secondary education.

To be considered for a scholarship, graduating seniors were asked to submit an application which was reviewed by school and district administration, as well as UCS community partners. Select seniors were then interviewed before final recipients were announced.

“This year’s Superintendent’s Scholarship recipients have an inspiring energy about them,” UCS Superintendent Robert S. Monroe said. “Our community has a lot to be proud of when they look at all that these students have accomplished, and all that they will continue to accomplish, thanks to their UCS education.”

Critical to making the Superintendent’s Scholarship possible is the UCS Foundation for Educational Excellence. The Foundation, comprised completely of volunteers, is dedicated to supporting the entire school district community and the futures of its students.

Also partnering with UCS are four families who have sponsored individual scholarships, including:

• The Brett Klenow Scholarship, established in memory of Brett Klenow, a 2005 graduate of Eisenhower High School. The scholarship was created to provide inspiration and financial assistance to a graduating UCS student who seeks to fulfill their career goals in engineering, computer science or a related field through advance study at a four-year college or university.
• The Stefan’s Hope Scholarship, created by Stefan’s Hope, a local non-profit founded in 2011 as a source of hope for families who have received a diagnosis of autism for a loved one. The scholarship was established to support young adults who live with autism and who will be continuing their education at a post-secondary institution.
• The Larry M. Smith Memorial Scholarship, established in memory of Larry M. Smith, a former teacher, counselor and retired administrator with UCS. His family created this memorial scholarship to provide post-secondary financial assistance to a graduating UCS high school student who embodies Mr. Smith’s legacy.
• The Richard LaBaere Educational Scholarship, established in memory of Richard LaBaere, who dedicated 31 years of service to education. The scholarship is designed to carry on his legacy of love and sacrifice and commitment to provide opportunities for everyone to make this world a better place.

“These community partnerships emulate the pride that the UCS community has for our students and their success,” said Monroe.