Woman's Club Awards $1,250 Scholarships to Recent High School Grads

The Lemont Junior Woman's Club recently awarded $1,250 scholarships to four high school graduates to recognize their outstanding volunteer efforts in the community.

Receiving the ninth annual Volunteer Scholarship Awards were recent graduates Kiley Janas, Ryan Peraino, Morgan Rex, and Maribeth Van Hecke were selected for LJWC’s ninth annual Volunteer Scholarship Awards. Each learned that they had won the scholarships at the school’s annual honors night event. 

The winners were chosen from a group of nineteen applicants based on their "inspiring commitment to volunteerism, history of outstanding community service and extra-curricular involvement, and strong academic performance," according to a press release.

“Our review committee had a difficult time selecting this year’s winners from a truly wonderful pool of applicants. The young adults selected this year really exemplify the spirit of volunteering, and we are proud to recognize their hard work with this scholarship,” said Kim Manning, LJWC Scholarship Chair.

Since its founding in 1993, the Lemont Junior Woman’s Club has provided financial and volunteer support to educational, civic and philanthropic efforts in Lemont. Members volunteer more than 7,000 hours and raise more than $30,000 each year to benefit the community.

Janas plans to attend either the University of Illinois or the University of Florida in the fall to study Biology. She hopes to become a dentist so she can provide free dental care and education to the poor. Her volunteer experience ranges from feeding the hungry to working with children at hospitals, tutoring, and the Special Olympics.

Peraino will attend the University of Missouri in the fall to study Journalism. The majority of his volunteering centers around helping kids, and he plans to continue this in the future as a youth coach. He has volunteered as a group leader at vacation Bible school and as a soccer referee. Peraino also completed a mission trip to Kentucky, and developed a disc golf course as his Eagle Scout project.

Rex plans to attend either Purdue or Georgia Tech in the fall to study Biomedical Engineering. She received the Cook County Youth Service Medal of Honor two years in a row for completing at least 100 hours of community service per year. Her volunteering ranges from mission trips, teaching Sunday school, and countless hours through service organizations like the Lemont Juniorettes and Girls Scouts. She is currently working to complete her Girl Scout Gold Award by renovating the H.O.P.E. (Helping Other People Everyday) closet in Lemont, which is an organization that provides clothing for residents who are financially unable to purchase new clothing. 

Van Hecke will attend Hope College in the fall to study English and Dance. Her love of dance led her to work with kids both at church and , choreographing and teaching them routines. Her volunteer service includes working with the Appalachian Service Project (a mission organization that rebuilds and restores homes in Central Appalachia), renovating the classrooms and hallways at her church to complete her Girl Scout Gold Award, making meals at the Ronald McDonald House and various other service projects through the Lemont Juniorettes.

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