Kiwanis Club of Manassas Key Club Scholarship Night

by Jen Weigel

The Kiwanis Club of Manassas presented two $1,000 scholarships to graduating high school seniors that have made significant contributions to Key Club, a service organization sponsored by Kiwanis International.  While the recipients represent two high school Key Clubs, the Kiwanis Club of Manassas also sponsors a third program at Osbourn High School.  This year's Scholarship Committee included Dr. Jen Weigel, Chair, and Mr. Carl Genthner.

Our first scholarship recipient is Mitesh Patel, son of Chunilal Patel and Daksha Patel.  Mitesh is graduating from Osbourn Park High School with a GPA of 3.80.  His academic courses included multiple AP classes.  He will attend the University of Toronto to major in Human Biology.  His career goal is to become a neurosurgeon.  He has been a Key Club member since 2005.  While in Key Club, Mitesh served as a Committee Head and as Division 10A Lieutenant Governor.  Mitesh said his work as LTG made him realize that each individual has the ability to make significant contributions to the community in which they live.

Our second scholarship recipient is Molly Hilberg, daughter of Sherry and Carl Hilberg.  Molly is graduating from Brentsville District High School with a rank of 3/361.  Her academic courses included many Cambridge and AP classes.  She will attend the College of William and Mary to major in Pre-med.  Her career goal is to become an OB/GYN.  Molly is a charter member of her Key Club which was founded in 2007.  While in Key Club, she has served as Treasurer.  Molly said that her work in Key Club has allowed her to become a more outgoing member of her community.  (Molly was unable to attend tonight's events.  She will be attending a future meeting with her family.)

The Kiwanis Club of Manassas would also like to recognize the endless efforts of our Key Club Faculty Advisors.  Our Advisors are:  Mrs. LeAnne Beardsley, Osbourn Park High School; Mrs. Ann Kulakowski, Osbourn High School; and Ms. Kelley Quann, Brentsville District High School.  These three Advisors have poured many hours into organizing volunteer activities, teaching leadership skills, mentoring students, and communicating the efforts of their students to our Club.  These women are the solid foundation upon which their Key Clubs are built.

Pioctured L to R are Mrs. Patel, Dr. Jen Weigel (Scholarship Chair), Mitesh Patel, and Mrs. LeAnne Beardsley (Osbourn Park High School Key Club Faculty Advisor).