Palm Beach Rotary hands out college scholarships to children of town employees

LOCAL

Palm Beach nonprofits hand out college scholarships to children of town employees

Jodie Wagner

Palm Beach Daily News

Published 5:01 a.m. ET Aug. 3, 2022 Updated 10:41 a.m. ET Aug. 3, 2022

Scholarships worth thousands of dollars were awarded to children of Town of Palm Beach employees at last month's Town Council meeting. During a presentation July 12, Mayor Danielle Moore read the names of 17 students who received scholarships from four nonprofit organizations within the town. Some students received more than one scholarship.

The Palm Beach Country Club Foundation presented 13 students with scholarships, according to the town. The foundation did not release scholarship figures, but the 28 scholarships awarded last year were worth $2,000 apiece for a total of $56,000.

The Rotary Club of Palm Beach Foundation presented six students with scholarships valued at $2,000 each.

The awards were presented through the organization's Flags for Heroes Scholarship Fund, which provides tuition money for college-bound students, existing undergraduate students, and trade school students who are children of full-time town general employees, including lifeguards.

Students were selected for scholarships through a process that looked at academic accomplishments, community service and personal achievements. Scholarships are funded through the annual Flags for Heroes charity event, which will return to Bradley Park in November.

Since 1998, the Rotary foundation has awarded more than $420,000 in scholarships to local students with outstanding academic records, a track record of community service, and who are from families where there is financial need.

The Palm Beach Civic Association and the Citizens’ Association of Palm Beach presented their annual Town of Palm Beach Scholarship Award to Reaghan Pierre, the daughter of Dionne Lightbourn, the town's accounting technician.

Pierre, who was dual enrolled at Palm Beach Gardens High School and Palm Beach State College, plans to major in biochemistry at Agnes Scott College in Decatur, Georgia. She hopes to pursue a career in medical research.

A member of the Palm Beach Gardens High School marching band, she has mentored junior band members and served in the National Honor Society and Spanish National Honor Society.

The Town of Palm Beach Scholarship Award, which has been presented annually since 1999, is worth $3,500.

Winners are chosen based on academic achievement, community service, and educational and career goals.

Award winners are:

Palm Beach Country Club Foundation: Michael Caristo, Christina Caristo, Joseph Barber, Christopher Barber, Bianca Badolati, Luke Stone, Clay Miller, Kalia Martin, Kevin Lebrun, Maxwell Guelli, Joseph Guelli, Scott Gordon and Samantha Tedesco.

Rotary Club of Palm Beach Foundation, Flags for Heroes Scholarships: Nicholas Pataca, Reaghan Pierre, Annabel Roach, Luke Stone, Christopher Wilson and Kalia Martin.

Palm Beach Civic Association/Citizens' Association of Palm Beach, Town of Palm Beach Scholarship Award: Reaghan Pierre.

Jodie Wagner is a journalist at the Palm Beach Daily News, part of the USA TODAY Florida Network. You can reach her at jwagner@pbdailynews.com. Help support our journalism. Subscribe today.