Courtesy Photo On hand for a recent luncheon honoring Zonta Club of Alpena Scholarship recipients were, seated from left, member Mabel Joseph, guest speaker and past recipient Jessica Ludlow and Amanda Timm. Standing from left are members Eileen Budnick, Stacey Smith and Diane O’Connor, and scholarship recipients Brianna Decker, Katherine Sharp, Maria Truss. Not pictured is scholarship recipient April Barres.

Courtesy Photo
On hand for a recent luncheon honoring Zonta Club of Alpena Scholarship recipients were, seated from left, member Mabel Joseph, guest speaker and past recipient Jessica Ludlow and Amanda Timm. Standing from left are members Eileen Budnick, Stacey Smith and Diane O’Connor, and scholarship recipients Brianna Decker, Katherine Sharp, Maria Truss. Not pictured is scholarship recipient April Barres.

Zonta also presents “non-traditional” student scholarships for those who have been out of school for a minimum of five years and are attending Alpena Community College to begin or further vocational aspirations. The scholarships are funded by the club’s multiple fundraising efforts conducted throughout the year.

Jessica Ludlow was the guest speaker for the luncheon honoring this year’s scholarship recipients. She received a Zonta scholarship in 2016 and this May graduated from the ACC registered nursing program.

As guest speaker Ludlow addressed the importance of scholarship assistance in forwarding her educational ambitions. She plans to continue her education with an ultimate objective of providing care to Alpena residents as a nurse practitioner.

The following individuals received scholarships for the 2017-18 academic year:

∫ Katherine Sharp received the Zonta scholarship for an Alpena High School senior attending a four-year college or university immediately following graduation. She plans to attend Central Michigan University this fall where she will pursue pre-medicine/neuroscience studies with an ultimate goal of attending medical school.

∫ Brianna Decker received the Zonta Scholarship for an AHS senior attending ACC on a full-time basis immediately following graduation. She plans to pursue general studies at ACC with an ultimate goal of attending medical school.

∫ Maria Truss received an ACC non-traditional student scholarship award. Truss is enrolled on a full-time basis in the ACC registered nursing program. Following completion of the RN program, her educational goals include completing a master’s program in nursing and a nurse practitioner program.

∫ April Barres received an ACC non-traditional student scholarship award. She is enrolled as a full-time student at ACC in a business administration program which she feels will widen her career opportunities.

Zonta Club of Alpena was chartered in 1963 and over the 52-year history in Alpena, the club has remained committed to providing scholarship opportunities to area women.

Zonta is an international service organization that strives to empower and enrich the lives of women in our community and worldwide through education, service, advocacy and financial support.