HADDONFIELD ROTARY FOUNDATION SCHOLARS - 2022

“They could remember me as the kid that was always super involved. They could remember me as a creative person and having amazing ideas and always volunteering.”  Zion Lee, a Haddonfield Memorial High School student, would often joke to her Steven Fluharty, her guidance counselor. “Zion  does not hesitate to challenge herself in our rigorous and demanding curriculum” shares Mr. Fluharty. Zion says in high school she really enjoyed how to debate, voice my opinion and stand up for what is right.”  A belief Rotarians share in asking is it “fair to all”? Zion has been vice-president of the Gay-Straight Alliance, chairperson of fundraising for the South Jersey NAACP, president of her youth choir and student officer in the Black Student Union.  Zion also has an athletic side and is involved in the winter and spring track program and a flag person in the color guard/marching band program. Vincent Gallo, her  chemistry teacher, “feels her involvement in these organizations shows her maturity in seeking to address complex issues and challenging societal problems.” Zion will attend Morgan State University majoring in Interior Design and Political Science.

Jada Scott is the recipient of the Robert M Oberholzer Fund. Jada is a senior at Urban Promise in Camden. She has the highest GPA in the senior class and is headed to college at Rowan University to major in studio art and possibly a career as an art teacher.  In her essay, Jada says she is pursuing this career to “share her creative ideas and stories” with others to “help and inspire” them. According to Andy Joshua, Head of Schools, Jada is a “motivated student who is interested in learning and takes her education seriously.” He also says she has a creative mind and loves to create characters and stories.  And Jada is a kind and caring person who encourages classmates and promotes unity.  He says she is a great student and a great human being.” 

“Janaisa White’s journey and growth over the past four years has been profound. She started high school as a very guarded and reserved student. As her confidence grew so did her engagement in activities both inside and outside the classroom,” according to Maureen Sullivan, her school counselor. Janasia, a student at Camden Catholic High School and the 2nd Robert M. Oberholzer Awardee, chose to stay online her junior year, a decision that was a problem for many students, but she did not let that stop her from achieving academic excellence ” writes Julie Bittinger, chair of the Foreign Language Department. While focusing on her academics, Janasia is also captain of the Cheer team and has worked with Urban Promise Ministries, an organization our Rotary Club supports, since she was 14 years old. Janasia’s goal is to work with children who are struggling with chronic diseases. Ms. Sullivan asked Janasia to select three words to describe herself and she chose kind, creative and open-minded. The three attributes reflect Rotary values, traits she has already shown and will serve Janasia well in her future career and life. Janasia will major in Nursing at Bethune-Coleman University.