Rotary Club awards $1,000 grants to six recent high school grads
The Montague-Whitehall Rotary Club recognized six outstanding area high school graduates with $1,000 college scholarships for their service and school and community, and their scholarship.
The grant awards were funded through several Rotary fundraisers, including the annual Night On The Town silent auction-dinner, No More Bull Raffle, Pancake Breakfast, and the recent Bacon, Bloodies and Brews.
The Rotary Scholarship winners attended a recent Montague-Rotary Club meeting. Pictured from left, Youth Committee Chair Greg Means, Rotary President Esther Baldridge, scholarship winners Annette Jensen, Brady Tate, Grace Torsch, Brian Mulac, Grace McDowell, Aidan Kutches, Rotary President-Elect Brent Raeth.
The six grant award winners are:
- Whitehall High School graduates:
- Grace McDowell, the daughter of Dr. Jerry and Sandi McDowell, is planning to attend Michigan State University’s Lyman Briggs residential honors college for Health and Science. She will be on a pre-med track with a goal of becoming an OBGYN. She was very active in school, serving as student council president, and was a member of the National Honor Society. Athletically, Grace participated in golf, tennis and basketball, and was named MHSAA Scholar-Athlete of the Year. Montague-Whitehall Rotary sponsored her attendance at a week-long 2024 World Affairs Seminar at Carroll University, Waukesha, Wisconsin.
- Brady Tate, the son of Brad and Susan Tate, is planning to study radiation therapy at Grand Valley State University. Throughout high school, Brady participated in several school organizations and held key leadership roles. He served as Student Council secretary and Class Secretary all four years. He was the captain of the tennis and golf teams. In his junior and senior years Brady served on the LINK crew, and was on the Whitehall HOPE squad (student based suicide prevention and awareness team. The National Honors Society member and White Lake Interact Club.
- Brian Mulac, the son of Mike and Betty Mulac, is planning to attend the University of Michigan this fall. He wants to study architecture, and design buildings that work with the environment. The National Honor Society member has run the tutoring program and was the treasurer of the White Lake Interact club. Brian also participated in the HOPE Squad, the Link crew, the jazz band, Science Olympiad and the Quizbowl. He also ran track in his sophomore year.
- Montague High School graduates:
- Grace Torsch, the daughter of Kim Torsch, is planning to major in applied mathematics and minor in computer science at Hillsdale College. Her goal is to significantly contribute to her community. Last summer she operated her own garden maintenance business. The four-year FFA member served as the chapter’s vice-president her senior year. She also participated in band and volleyball, and had the top grade point average of the senior class.
- Annette Jensen, the daughter of Todd and Jennifer Jensen, intends to pursue a dual major in music performance and chemistry or audiology. During the summer Annette has worked as a lifeguard and taught swimming lessons. The National Honor Society member also participated in FFA, tutored and founded the sign language club. She ran track and field and played in the school band, Annette also played in the Holland and Grand Rapids youth symphonies.
- Aidan Kutches, the son of Mark and Melissa Kutches, will attend Ferris State University in the fall where he will be a part of the six-year pharmacy program. He would like to work at a retail or hospital pharmacy. Aidan was busy volunteering. He was the Rotary Interact Club president for two years, tutored, served at church, and helped at the library and playhouse. At school he participated in band, bowling, golf, FFA, Student Senate and National Honor Society.
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