STRIVE is a program where rotarians and non-rotarians mentor high school students in the lower part of their senior class with emphasis on preparing them for their post graduation opportunities and responsibilities while working with them to improve their grade point in their senior year. Our goal is to motivate eligible Stillwater High School seniors to discover their own strengths and talents so as to increase their personal and academic achievement. Further incentives are offered through scholarships for students to further their education.
Stillwater Sunrise Rotary Club - Stillwater, Minnesota
Current Section
STRIVE Mentoring Program
Students Taking Renewed Interest in the Value of Education (S.T.R.I.V.E)
Strive Program Scholarship Rewards
| Most Improved GPA | $1,000 scholarship |
| Second Most Improved GPA | $750 scholarship |
| Best Overall GPA | $500 scholarship |
| Best Attendance | $250 scholarship |
The Scholarship committee reserves the right to modify these qualifications if necessary
Qualifications to Receive Rewards
- Maintain maximum number of STRIVE classes
- Improve GPA throughout the senior year
Strive Commitment
- Attend and participate in all Regularly scheduled STRIVE Meetings
- Accept the STRIVE Challenge by signing a commitment form.
- Report to class on time.
- Bring appropriate learning materials to class.
- Actively participate in the learning activities as directed.
- Treat other STRIVE members and mentors with respect and dignity.
- Honor requests of the teacher.
Strive Contacts
Dave Langer
Strive Co-Chair
Pete Smith
Strive Co-Chair
Gayle Solsvig
Career Center Stillwater High School
Phone: 651-351-8012
Strive Meetings
Stillwater Sunrise Rotary members will schedule STRIVE meetings approximately every three weeks at Stillwater High School throughout the year with students who accepted the STRIVE Challenge. Rotarians want to stay updated about everyone’s progress. These meetings will be approximately 60 minutes and Lunch will be provided!
Recognition Event
A special Banquet to recognize all students and parents/guardians involved in the STRIVE program will be sponsored by the Stillwater Rotary Club in the Spring.
Recent S.T.R.I.V.E. News
Sunrise gives $2750 in Scholarships
05/19/09
By Bob Rupp
STRIVE students and mentors were Sunrise Rotary guests at breakfast last week. Four scholarships were awarded by Dave Langer, committee chair.
Four SAHS students received $2750 in scholarships during this year’s Sunrise Rotary STRIVE program.
Top winner was Cassie Donnelly, who was given a $1,000 scholarship for greatest overall improvement during her senior year. Second in improvement was Zach Williams, with a $750 scholarship. Brianna Crea received $750 for best GPA during the year. Chad Kohns won $250 for perfect attendance at all 14 STRIVE meetings.
Eleven Sunrise mentors, plus others recruited by Sunrise, counseled 14 seniors during this school year’s program. They met with the students 14 times during the school year, helping them determine and develop skills, make career choices, select colleges and put together job and college resumes.
This was the tenth school year Sunrise Rotary has sponsored the Rotary-originated STRIVE assistance program. Money for the scholarships came from annual Sunrise fund-raising events including the Mary Jo Weingarten “What’s Best For Kids” Memorial Golf Event which will be held this year on September 12th at the Stillwater Country Club.
Seven of the 14 STRIVE seniors attended a Sunrise awards breakfast last week. They heard Sam Shikowsky, a former STRIVE member now in his third year at Mankato State, tell them to “find something you’re good at” and go for it. They also were told by District 834 Superintendent Keith Ryskosky to “expect to have 11 to 14 different jobs by the time you are 40.” Ryskosky urged the students to “continue to learn” and thanked Sunrise members for their hands-on teaching and guidance assistance.
Students attending the breakfast included Brianna Crea, Cassie Donnelly, Brennen Klover, Chad Kohns, Andrew Stewart, Caylin Watson and Torre Wolf. Those in this year’s program but unable to attend included Nick Blomstrand, Brando Firkus, Madeline Hall, Drey Leuer, John Moreno, Nick Treazise and Zach Williams.
The 11 Sunrise mentors were Dave Langer, who chairs the program, Arba Della Beck, Justin Bonestroo, Shari Clifford, Janis Donnelly, Craig Leiser, John Lennes, Del Peterson, Pete Smith, Dean Tibbets and Matt Valek. Non-Sunrise mentors included Val Fisher, Ann Langer, Liz Smith and Sue Swenson.
Tag(s): STRIVE Home Service Projects
Dick Anderson Addresses STRIVE Students at 12/16/08 Rotary Mtg.
12/16/08
By Stillwater Sunrise Rotary
STRIVE Students and Mentors
Ed Simonet introduced Dick Anderson who gave an inspirational talk to our guests, the students participating in STRIVE. Dick is a successful businessman here in Stillwater, Owner of the St. Croix Packet Company (Andiamo Boats), Lowell Inn plus other enterprises in Stillwater. He spoke directly to the students, detailing some of his not so perfect youth and how he struggled but enventually got his life together. He emphazied to the students that without so many jobs available in these times, they must work extra hard, and set goals
Dick emphasized 3 key items, 1st you must challenge yourself all the time. In 9th grade he wished that his shop teacher had challenged him rather then just criticize. It is important that every day that you try to do something better. He dropped out of school when he was in 10th grade and made a lot of bad decisions. His 2nd key item was to make good positive decisions. Finally in his life he began to do this when he was 27 years old. He remembers one of his teachers saying to him, “it is within your power to be anything you want to be!” He had a friend in School whom he recently met, who shared his trouble making ways in those days and today he is a very successful attorney.
His 3rd item is to give back what you have received, it is your obligation. He has been involved in helping kids that have had trouble with the law, doing this for 12 years with 25 kids at a time. He found them to have no purpose, no goals and pretty much down on life. “You, only you, have to make your own choices.
Tag(s): Home Service Projects STRIVE
Ethics Essay Contest Winners Announced
04/08/08
By Stillwater Sunrise
SAHA Teacher Debbie Drommerhausen, SAHA Seniors Sheila Stormont & Taylor Green, Club Vocational Director Tim Trooien
With the encouragement of Rotary District 5960, our club sponsored an Ethics Essay contest at Stillwater Area High School. Club friend and SAHA teacher, Debbie Drommerhausen assisted our Club Vocational Director, Tim Trooien in promoting this project at the High School. At the April 8th meeting, the two winning students were presented to the club. Seniors Taylor Green and Sheila Stormont were awarded prize money for their winning essays. Taylor received $500 for first prize and Sheila received $250 for second. The topics of the essays focused on ethics and modern technology.
To read the winning essays, click here
Tag(s): Home Service Projects STRIVE
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STRIVE Mentors
