Beatrice High School seniors honored with over $100,000 in scholarships
BEATRICE – The Beatrice Educational Foundation is over six figures in scholarships to graduating seniors at Beatrice High School.
Sunday afternoon, scholarships totaling $100,800 were announced for graduates, during a ceremony at the Beatrice High School Commons area. Foundation President Andy Carothers says the BEF began in 1987.
"We are one of the oldest local public school foundations in the State of Nebraska. Our purpose is to provide a permanent source of financial support for the expansion and enrichment of learning activities in the Beatrice Public School District."
Five seniors received the Fred and Virginia Vette Scholarships, totaling $6,000 each. They are Ava Bolli, Addison Hatcliff, Luke Hamilton, Collin Mangnall and Macee Griffith. Awarded the Francis Reed Scholarships of $7,000 each were Alayna Happle and Arihanna Marlatt.
A total of forty scholarships created by families donating to the foundation were announced at Sunday’s event.
The Beatrice Educational Foundation honored retired Beatrice Middle School Teacher Mike Policky as the foundation’s Friend of Education honoree. Policky still substitute teaches and helps out at other schools when needed. He urged seniors to thank their teachers and parents for helping them toward their goals.
"As you take your journey through life, make the most of it. Sacrifice, be a risk taker....and most of all, be grateful, and thankful."
Three new inductees into the Beatrice Educational Foundation Hall of Fame were honored.
John Spence is a 1961 BHS graduate who went on to be an award-winning photographer, filmmaker and artist. Pamela Fitzwater-Johannsen is a 1978 graduate of Beatrice High School and is the Assistant Vice-President of Worldwide Product Sales and Ecosystem at BMC, a technology firm. Laura Bird-Holland graduated from BHS in 1969 and was a professor and chair of Communication, Arts and Media, Theatre, Dance and Visual Arts at Oral Roberts University for 45 years.
