Palm Beach nonprofits award college scholarships to children of town employees
A trio of college scholarships were awarded to children of Town of Palm Beach employees at last month's Town Council meeting.
During a presentation Aug 8., Council President Maggie Zeidman read the names of three students who received scholarships from three nonprofit organizations within the town.
The Rotary Club of Palm Beach Foundation presented two students with scholarships valued at $2,000 each.
The awards were presented to Annabel Roach and Andrew Loihle through the organization's Flags for Heroes Scholarship Fund, which provides tuition money for college-bound students, existing undergraduate students and trade school students who are children of full-time town general employees, including lifeguards.
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Roach, the daughter of Mike Roach, a project engineer with the town's Public Works Department, attends Auburn University and plans to major in accounting. Loihle, the son of Billy Loihle, a golf course mechanic with the Recreation Department, attends Stevenson University in Pikesville, Maryland, and plans to major in business administration.
They were selected for scholarships through a process that looked at academic accomplishments, community service and personal achievements. Scholarships are funded through the annual Flags for Heroes charity event.
Since 1998, the Palm Beach Rotary Foundation has awarded approximately $460,000 in scholarships to local students with outstanding academic records and a track record of community service.
Some of these students are from families where there was a serious financial need, said Thomas Bradford, Rotary Club of Palm Beach treasurer. Other deserving students seek financial help to mitigate the rising costs of attending an accredited college or university of their choice.
The Palm Beach Civic Association and the Citizens’ Association of Palm Beach presented their annual Town of Palm Beach Scholarship Award to Robert Lebrun, the son of Brian Lebrun, a longtime firefighter/paramedic with the town's Fire Rescue Department.
Lebrun, a graduate of Seminole Ridge High School in Loxahatchee, plans to study investment management at Lynn University in Boca Raton. He accumulated more than 250 hours of community service while at Seminole Ridge, was a member of the school's National Honor Society and maintained a 3.95 grade point average.
He hopes to enroll in the fire academy after his college graduation and follow in his father's footsteps by obtaining EMT and paramedic certification, the town said.
The Town of Palm Beach Scholarship Award, which has been presented annually since 1999, is worth $3,000.
Winners are chosen based on academic achievement, community service, and educational and career goals.
"There were several exemplary applicants this year, and as always, it was not an easy choice for the committee," said Zeidman, reading from a statement provided by the Civic and Citizens' associations. "However, Robert stood out for his consistently outstanding GPA and extremely focused mindset."
Jodie Wagner is a journalist at the Palm Beach Daily News, part of the USA TODAY Florida Network. You can reach her at jwagner@pbdailynews.com. Help support our journalism. Subscribe today.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Daily News: Palm Beach nonprofits award scholarships to children of town employees
