Grove Rotary Scholarship
Grove Rotary awards three 4-year college scholarships totaling $21,600
Three Grove High School seniors were chosen by the Grove Rotary Club for four-year college scholarships worth $21,600. The three seniors are Sierra Campbell, Joel Garber and Taylor Johnson.
According to the Rotary Education Committee Chairman, Pauline Hale, the three were chosen from 12 applications. Of the 157 Grove High School seniors, 10% met the Rotary scholarship requirements.
A committee of nine Rotarians interviewed the candidates and each of the three recipients will receive a total of $7,200 over a four-year period. Each of the students received their first-year check of $1,800 during Wednesday’s meeting.
Sierra Campbell is the daughter of Mandy Campbell and Justin Campbell. She plans to attend Northeastern State University to major in cell and molecular biology and then go to medical school.
Sierra has maintained a 4.0 or higher weighted GPA during her high school years while taking numerous advanced placement classes, including Sierra has been involved in FFA, National Honor Society, the Grand Savings Junior Bank Board, Character Counts, and she served as Junior Class Secretary. She has placed in the top five in several speech contests across the state and was recognized as High Individual at Big Three Field Days Livestock Judging Contest. She launched a non-profit for improving literacy in a local community to share her love for books. She is providing books to classrooms as well as a free library that is open to all ages. She believes nothing brings people together more than a “good book.”
Joel Garber Joel Garber is the son of Penny and Wes Garber. He plans to attend Pittsburg State University to major in Music Education.
Joel has maintained a 4.0 or higher weighted GPA during his high school years while taking multiple advanced placement classes. He has also completed numerous concurrent college courses. In addition to his busy class schedule, Joel is a member of the National Honor Society, the Independent Science Research Club and has been a member of the Grove Band program, including concert band, jazz band, and marching band, where he served as the Drum Major for several years. He has earned numerous awards and honors in the state of Oklahoma for his musical talents and has been an Oklahoma All-State musician for three years.
Joel launched a non-profit called N.O.T.E, No One Tolerates Exclusion. The program is aimed at students who wish to take music lessons but can’t afford to do so. The lessons are 30 minutes, once a week and taught by Joel and other gifted high school music students. Several of these students have gone on to earn state recognition.
Taylor Johnson is the daughter of Joan Johnson and Jeff Johnson. She was named an Oklahoma Academic All-Stater and is this year's Grove High school valedictorian. She has been accepted into the Honors College at Oklahoma State University and plans to obtain degrees in Mathematics and Secondary Education while being involved in President's Leadership Council and Freshman Research Scholars. She wants to be a math teacher so “I can educate the next generation.”
She has accumulated 25+ hours of college credit and has taken every AP course at Grove High School. She is president of National Honor Society, vice president of the Class of 2021, vice president of Character Counts, and secretary and board member of Rotary's Interact Club. I am also a member of the High School soccer team. She is also a referee for the YMCA and Grove Soccer Club.