The 2025 Rotary Scholarship Winners Announced

Rotarian Scott Neal, Chair, Scholarship Committee, introduced three very deserving students who received the 2025 scholarships.      

While all three of this year’s award recipients excelled in multiple ways, the Committee focused heavily on applicants’ essay answers to two questions:  why does the candidate deserve the award and why will this award help them afford their continuing education.  We think you will agree the Committee chose well. 

Cerise Archer is a recent graduate of Lafayette High School in the Pre Engineering Program and a SCAPA Theatre Performance major. She was a member of the National Honor Society, Science National Honors Society, International Thespians Honor Society, and Tri-M Music Honor Society. Cerise attended the Governor’s School for the Arts in 2024 in the drama discipline, and has spent her high school years volunteering at Lexington Children’s Theatre where she loves to perform and stage manage. Cerise will attend Butler University in the honors program majoring in theatre, psychology, and criminology, with an emphasis in musical theatre and stage management. She hopes to eventually find a career to combine her interests, such as victims’ advocacy, drama therapy, or behavioral analysis. She loves spending time with her puppy Primrose and baking with her friends. 

Nakari Ellington is a graduate of Henry Clay High School. During her time at Henry Clay, she was a member of the Wind Ensemble, Jazz Band, Marching Band, Black Student Union, Varsity Volleyball Team, and several other clubs. She plans to attend UK and major in Medical Laboratory Sciences with a minor in Communications. She also plans to earn the Clinical Healthcare Management undergraduate certificate. Healthcare has always been an interest. 

Rashaad Faulkner is a senior graduating from Opportunity Middle College in the dual credit program affiliated with BCTC. He will attend Union Commonwealth University this fall majoring in Computer Science with a focus in Cyber Security. He will also play basketball for Union. He enjoys giving back to the less fortunate on the weekends, working with grandparents and serving meals with their food ministry. He loves giving back and seeing the happiness and joy on the faces of those served and knows he has made their days better. Another hobby of is music, both as a listener and a creator.  A basketball fanatic, he has been playing basketball since he was five years old.  

 Congratulations, Scott and Team!  Congratulations Cerise, Nakari, and Rasheed!