By AARON MUELLER
Niles Daily Star

The Niles-Buchanan Rotary Club will once again give away three scholarships to area high school seniors.

Each scholarship is worth $4,000 and will be given to one student from each of the three area high schools – Niles, Brandywine and Buchanan. The Rotary Club has been awarding scholarships since 1962 and has donated close to $300,000 in scholarship funds to local students over the years.

The club is again raising money through a community raffle. Tickets are $100 each, but there are only 200 of them available.

“So the odds are pretty good,” Rotary Club President Kent Figy said.

There is more than $9,000 in prize money to be won with eight cash prize winners. The winners will be drawn at the annual club dinner at Orchard Hills Country Club on June 21.

Figy said the past two years the club has been able to sell all 200 tickets, but this year sales are a bit slow.

He believes the scholarships are important for the community.

“This has been our primary event every year, and we feel it’s important to be affiliated with schools and help out the students in furthering their education,” Figy said.

Paul Rifenberg, a member of the club, is impressed by the students who apply for the scholarships.

“We read things everyday, it seems, about wayward, irresponsible kids and the decline of work ethic and personal responsiblity,” he said. “Yet when you interview these kids, and see what they’ve accomplished and what they have to offer, you realize that the future of this area, and the nation in general, is actually in pretty good hands. We should do everything we can as a community to support them.”

To purchase tickets, contact any Rotarian or Figy at kfigy@unitedfcu.com or (269) 684-1151 ext. 5200.