District Scholar Awarded
Posted by Ann Weidman
$5000 SCHOLARSHIP AWARDED
“If Ebenezer Scrooge grew up in a town where there was a Rotary club, maybe he too could have learned high ethical standards as a child.” That was only one of many driving forces that won Morgan Bennett a $5,000 District 7090 Scholarship. Morgan was sponsored by the Westfield/Mayville Rotary Club. She was presented her scholarship check recently by Shefali Clerk, Rotary District 7090 Scholarship Committee chair, who visited the local Rotary for its noon meeting. Also involved with the scholarship program is Rotarian Dan Smith, Youth Services chair for the club and also District VTT co-chair, who represents the program for the Westfield/Mayville Rotary Club area.
Morgan, who was selected from among the sponsored nominations from many Rotary clubs in the district, realized at the beginning of her high school sophomore year what she wanted to do with her life, and that was helping others. Brocton Central was the first school in the county to start a Rotary sponsored group called Interact, just what Morgan needed to help her reach her aspiration.
Having been Interact secretary in her junior year and president in her senior year, Morgan was part of every undertaking of the organization, particularly an annual can drive. She recalls 2013 as the best year for this project because one family contributed two trucks full of pop and can bottles, which gave the club more than $100 dollars, to help another family in need. “It is moments in life like that that really make you think,” Morgan recalled, “and moments like that made me fall in love with helping others.”
Morgan and her Interact buddies became involved in many other undertakings – helping at the Westfield Soup Kitchen at Thanksgiving time, providing children with play time gifts. “A mother came into the kitchen, tears in her eyes, and gave my friend and me a hug,” she recalls. “It’s moments in your life like that that you will absolutely never forget.”
Having graduated in 2014 from Brocton Central School, Morgan is now a freshman at SUNY Fredonia majoring in social work. She has continued her Rotary connections by joining the Fredonia Rotaract Club on campus. Only first-year post-secondary school students are eligible to submit an application through and endorsed by a Rotary Club in District 7090.
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Morgan and her Interact buddies became involved in many other undertakings – helping at the Westfield Soup Kitchen at Thanksgiving time, providing children with play time gifts. “A mother came into the kitchen, tears in her eyes, and gave my friend and me a hug,” she recalls. “It’s moments in your life like that that you will absolutely never forget.”
Having graduated in 2014 from Brocton Central School, Morgan is now a freshman at SUNY Fredonia majoring in social work. She has continued her Rotary connections by joining the Fredonia Rotaract Club on campus. Only first-year post-secondary school students are eligible to submit an application through and endorsed by a Rotary Club in District 7090.
“Service Above Self is Rotary International’s motto. So, my motto throughout life thus far – and will be forever – is Service Above Self,” Morgan emphasizes when she talks about serving others. She even chose to further her education and become a social work major.
“Rotary is the most prestigious group I have ever belonged to, and this is my fourth year being a part of it,” Morgan said. This group has changed my life as a whole, and no matter where I go, I will wear (its) ideals as if they were an accessory to my life’s outfit. Starting with the connections I have made, as well as the high ethical standards I have gained, I will use them and apply them throughout my life. This group has taught me more than I could ever imagine, and for that I am grateful.”
Morgan, the daughter of Kent and Eileen Bennett, grew up in Brocton and graduated from Brocton Central. When not studying at SUNY Fredonia to earn her bachelor’s social work degree, her favorite hobbies include helping others and hiking. She is an active Rotary volunteer and hopes to help many others throughout her life.
“I couldn’t imagine my life without Rotary; this organization has given me more than I could imagine, starting with leadership skills, and now they are helping me pay for my college education.”
As for Morgan’s winning a scholarship, Shefali wrote in her Jan. 30th letter to her, “This year’s competition was very tough. We had a three-way tie, but our judges were able to find the Best candidate. Morgan Bennett has been involved with the Rotary Club activities in the past. She was also a recipient of scholarship from Westfield-Mayville Rotary Club for 2014.”
“We are very proud to have sponsored Morgan for this Scholarship Award,” Smith said. “Her involvement and activity with our Rotary club during her high school career truly helped her demonstrate our motto, “Service Above Self,” and distinguish herself from other applicants. We know the $5,000 award will go a long way as she pursues her education at Fredonia State University.”
As for Morgan, she expressed her future in the last paragraph of her scholarship application. “Rotary International is one of the best organizations that anyone could ever be a part of. Joining this organization was one of the best decisions I ever made in my life. It has taught me to grow as a person, be grateful for what I have and be able to pass it on. I will always have a group of friends, no matter where I go, in life and make connections that are extremely important. I will always carry these ideals within me and for that I am extremely grateful that my opportunities are endless.”