Bowker selected for Rotary Scholarship

Sidney High School senior MacKenzie Bowker was chosen as the 2015 Sidney Rotary Club Scholarship recipient.

Bowker will attend Chadron State College in the fall and plans to study nursing. The $1,000 scholarship is provided by the fundraising activities of the local Rotary International Club.

“It’s always so difficult to choose just one person for this award; all the applications were very good,” said committee member Matt Moore. “But MacKenzie was an excellent interview, and after discussing all the candidates’ applications and interviews, we were in agreement on her selection. Her hard work and community involvement were also quite notable.”

For nearly 90 years, the Sidney Rotary Club has maintained a presence in Sidney, supporting youth activities such as summer baseball, Boy’s State, CASA, the Rotary Youth Leadership

Award Camp, business and student foreign exchange programs and the Rotary Scholarship.

“It was interesting to hear how many of the students were truly affected by the volunteer work they did,” said veteran selection committee member Wendall Gaston about those interviewing for the annual scholarship. “Many of them pointed to their efforts with the local food pantry as being instrumental in their compassionate understanding and for the importance of volunteerism. It really fit Rotary’s motto of ‘Service above Self.’”