Saturday night, for the 34th year, the Trentini Foundation honored local high school students and awarded handsome scholarships to three of them.
Phillip Graham from Wake Forest High was awarded the $30,000 scholarship to attend N.C. State, and Katie Valchar from Heritage High School was awarded the $5,000 scholarship to also attend N.C. State. Danielle Thomas, a senior at Wake Forest High, was the 2014 Community College winner and will attend Wake Tech with a $1,000 scholarship.
James Warren, one of Anthony J. Trentini’s football players who was also one of those who started the foundation in 1981 when the scholarship, then $500, went to Tony Chambers, related the history of the foundation.
Two former Trentini scholars, Bill Jones, who was chosen in 1984, and Holden McLemore, the 2012 winner, spoke of the impact the scholarship has had on their lives.
This is the second year the foundation has awarded scholarships at both Wake Forest and Heritage high schools, and the goal is to increase the endowment to make the two top scholarships equal.
Six nominees for the scholarships are chosen each year from many more applicants, and each of the ten student nominees will receive a $1,000 scholarship. In all this year, the foundation awarded $46,000 to the 13 students.
Phillip Graham, whose parents are Ruth and Joe Graham, was also nominated for the UNC-Chapel Hill Morehead-Cain Scholarship and the N.C. State Park Scholarship. He played basketball, ran track and cross country, and is a member of the National Honor Society, the Beta Club and the Spanish Honor Society. A junior marshal last year, he volunteered with tutoring, the Tobacco Road Aid Station, a food drive at his church and a runner’s camp.
Mary Katharine “Katie” Valchar’s parents are Natalie and Michael Valchar. She played softball and tennis and was part of the marching band. She was chosen to attend the North Carolina Governor’s School East, was a nominee for the N.C. State Park Scholarship as well as being an AP Scholar with Honor at Heritage and the first place drum major. She volunteered with the Wake Forest Dream League, the Heritage High theater, the Hope Lutheran Hand Bell Choir, the YMCA’s Camp Seagull and with the Wake Forest Purple Heart Society.
The Heritage nominees are:
Jennifer Marie Gay, parents Jim and Joan Gay. She will attend UNC-Chapel Hill. Some of her honors were AP Scholar with Honor, the Science Core Competency Award, Wellesley College Book Aware and Bronze Level on National Spanish Exam. She was a varsity cheerleader, played softball, and participated in the Construction Club, Key Club, Leadership Symposium, Spanish Honor Society, National Honor Society, and Husky Diplomats. She volunteered at the YMCA and was a tutor at Jones Dairy Elementary.
Charlotte Marie Hopson, parents Tamara and Hal Hopson, will attend UNC-Chapel Hill. She played varsity tennis, was a junior marshal, and participated in the Spanish National Honor Society, Spanish Club, Chess Club and the Science Olympiad. She was chosen to attend the Governor’s School. She volunteered with the Raleigh Little Theater and at summer camp and the Teens on Stage Summer Conservatory.
Caroline Jasperse, parents Maria and John Jasperse, will attend UNC-Chapel Hill. She was an AP Scholar with Distinction, a junior marshal, a member of the National Society of High School Scholars, and won an award of excellence from the National Academy of Future Physicians & Medical Scientists. The played tennis and participated in three honor societies – Science, French and the National Honor Society – and was part of the All State and All Country Choir. She had a Red Cross certificate for babysitting and volunteered for the North Regional Library, the North Carolina Aquariums, the Shepherd’s Table Soup Kitchen and the St. Andrews’ Presbyterian Church.
Kelly Trawick, parents Nancy and Guy Trawick, will attend UNC Wilmington. She volunteered for Relay 4 Life, tornado relief, the Wake Forest Chamber of Commerce Business Expo and at Jones Dairy Elementary School. She played varsity soccer and was a junior marshal. She is a member of the National Honor Society, the Spanish Honor Society, the school’s business alliance, and participated in the Northeastern Regional Youth Leadership Conference.
Ryan Eric Varner, parents Kathleen and Christ Varner, will attend Belmont Abbey College. He played lacrosse, where he was the team captain, and football and was a member of the National Honor Society, the Chinese Honor Society, the Spirit Club, the Construction Club and the Art Honor Society. His volunteer work includes the Wake Forest Dream League, the American Red Cross, Light the Night Walk, St. Francis of Assisi and Fusion Lacrosse.
The Wake Forest nominees are:
Emily Grace Hartman, parents John and Laura Hartman, will attend UNC-Wilmington. She played varsity and CASL soccer and was a member of the Student Government Association, the National Honor Society, DECA, the Spanish Honor Society and the Varsity Honor Society. A Park Scholarship nominee, she was named an academic all-conference and was on the A Honor Roll. She volunteered at the Boys & Girls Club, Relay 4 Life, Kidsfest, and Hearts from Home.
Amanda Levy, parents Steve and Angie Levy, will attend UNC-Pembroke. She was named the Most Outstanding Senior, won WRAL-TV’s Tom Suitor Extra Effort Award for her golf game and her grades, and was the 2012 Teen Miss Wake County Queen. Her activities at school included the National Honor Society, the Student Government Association, the Beta Club, the yearbook, varsity men’s baseball and Future Farmers of America. She was a member of the town’s Youth Advisory Board, helped with Backpack Buddy program at Wake Forest Elementary, and with First Tee of the Triangle.
Kristen Noel Lewis, parents Brenda and McKenzie Lewis, will attend N.C. State. She played JV and varsity basketball and varsity track and field and was named to the academic all-conference for both. A member of the National Honor Society, the National Achievers Society, the Interact Club, the national Spanish Honor Society and Beta Club, she won a Lady Cougar Award, was on the A or A/B honor roll and was named for her achievement by the Kappa Charitable Trust Academic Achievement group. She volunteered for Just Girls Academy, the Special Needs Prom, Habitat for Humanity, Cougar Camp, and at medical clinics and in a nursing home.
Madison Nicole Pontrelli, parents Samantha and Lance Pontrelli, will attend UNC-Chapel Hill. She played varsity tennis and JV and varsity soccer. She was an Academic All-Conference, won the MVP and All Around Teammate Award for tennis and the MVP Award for Soccer. She also won the President’s Volunteer Service Award. She volunteered with the Red Cross Blood Donation Center and the Red Cross Event Support, and with Brown Bag Ministries. She was a member of the Environmental Science Club, the National Honor Society, the Spanish Honor Society, the Science Honor Society and Key Club.
Rebecca Yoakum, parents Kimberly and Dan Yoakum, will attend N.C. State. She won varsity letters in the track, cross country and swim teams, was a Morehead-Cain nominee, a junior marshal and an Academic All-Conference. She was a member of the National Honors Society and the National Spanish Honors Society. She volunteered with Breezing Hill Farm, Runner’s Camp, The Summit Church Children’s Ministry, the Embrace Uganda 5K Race, the Tobacco Road Marathon Aid Station and projects at the town’s Joyner Park.
