Scholarships awarded by AIM Young Professionals of Dearborn County will help three local members of the Class of 2015 achieve their dreams.
The AIM YP Future Leaders of Dearborn County Scholarships acknowledges the recipients' strong leadership, academic excellence, and big ideas. The scholarships are funded by the annual AIM YP 5K, sponsorship of the organization by local businesses, and membership dues.
Among several well-qualified candidates, East Central High School senior Ellie Dermody earned the first place $500 scholarship. In addition to participating in a number of extracurricular activities including ECHS Student Council and Book Club, Dermody has donated more than 120 hours of her time to several community organizations such as the North Dearborn Food Pantry, P.A.W.S of Dearborn County, Special Olympics, and Lawrenceburg Public Library Teen Advisory Group. All the while, she has maintained a 4.137 GPA.
Each scholarship applicant was required to write an essay about a business idea they have or a way to improve an existing local institution or business. In her essay, Dermody pitched the idea of establishing a business that turns rescued dogs into service animals for people with special needs.
"My goal is to use rescued dogs that in turn will help to 'rescue' others," she wrote.
Dermody also said she would like to assist P.A.W.S. of Dearborn County in growing its social media presence on Twitter. The driven teen also wants to continue her involvement with the local food pantry.
Dermody plans to attend the Kelley School of Business at Indiana University starting in August.
Two more local graduating seniors each earned $250 runner-up scholarships from AIM YP. They are East Central's Meghan Whitaker and Lawrenceburg High School's Hannah Rea.
Whitaker, who will begin attending the Christ College of Nursing and Health Sciences in the summer, is graduating with a 3.46 GPA. She has participated four years with the ECHS Future Farmers of America and golf team - among other extracurriculars. Last summer, she participated in Margaret Mary Health's Medical Scholars Academy. She has volunteered nearly 100 hours with her church and local food pantry.
Whitaker's business idea is to establish a community outreach program with Dearborn County Hospital that takes basic health clinics to high-traffic locations in the county.
Rea has a 4.306 GPA at Lawrenceburg, where she has multiple years of participation with the school academic team, newspaper, key club, French club, and Lawrenceburg Shakespeare Company. She has volunteers about 100 hours with Hillforest Victorian House Museum, LHS Key Club, and Prevent Child Abuse. Her aspirations are to be a foreign journalist.
Hannah's essay centered around general ways to help improve the City of Lawrenceburg, including tapping people's entrepreneurial spirit in bringing more business to the city's downtown.
AIM YP has provided other worthy students help with paying for college or pursuing a career straight out of high school. Each year, the organization administers the Maverick Challenge business planning competition for Dearborn County's high school students. This year's Dearborn County champion, South Dearborn High School senior Dalton Ranshaw, also became the 10-county regional champion of the Maverick Challenge. He won $4,000 with his business plan and presentation.
AIM YP plans to offer the AIM YP Future Leaders of Dearborn County Scholarships and the Maverick Challenge again in 2015-2016 to students at East Central, Lawrenceburg, and South Dearborn high schools. Interested students and parents can learn more by visiting www.AIMYP.com or inquiring with their school guidance counselor.
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