Three 2025 Moline High School graduates will enroll at the University of Illinois-Champaign this month, hoping to build on their commitment to service and volunteerism with scholarship assistance from the Moline Rotary Club.
Lucas Eaton, Akhil Kumar and Vrati Sharma earned respective Moline Rotary Scholarship Foundation awards of $5,000, $3,000, and $2,000 by exemplifying the Rotary International mantra of “Service Above Self.”
Mr. Eaton and Ms. Sharma will major in business at the state university, while Mr. Kumar will pursue a computer science degree.
In addition, MHS graduates Ricardo Aguilar Jr. and Martina Calderon will attend Black Hawk College tuition-free through the benefit of STRIVE scholarships presented by the Moline Rotary in partnership with BHC.
Since 1996, the two Moline Rotary Club member-funded scholarship programs have awarded nearly $300,000 in scholarship assistance to students living within Moline’s borders.
Scholars part of Interact
In addition to numerous other MHS organizations that promote volunteerism and service, the selected scholars participated in the high school’s Interact Club, a Rotary International-sanctioned, youth-oriented extension of the Rotary commitment to volunteerism and community Service.
Mr. Eaton said his participation in Interact “made me feel accepted, helped me branch out and put me on the path to service and volunteering.” He plans to enlist his college education to assist with the growing problem of food insecurity.
Mr. Kumar organized a tutoring program that helped fellow students assist their peers in understanding science, technology, engineering, and math. The “Beyond the Student” program, he said, “Helped so many students achieve what they hadn’t thought possible. That ties perfectly to service above self.”
Ms. Sharma plans to pursue a post-graduate law degree and ultimately use the legal profession to help others. “I was raised with the idea that helping others is above everything else,” she said. “It’s a part of my culture. It’s a part of my religion.”
Moline Rotary Foundation Chair J.C. Millman said the annual scholarship awards are foundational to the Rotary mission, and said this year’s scholars represent the future of our community.
Through the STRIVE Scholarship, the Moline Rotary annually provides a year of tuition and books to two students, with Black Hawk College providing a matching award. Applicants must maintain a C grade-point average or better, with a senior year GPA one point better than they had in year one. Winners also must maintain an attendance record of 90% or better as seniors.
