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These are the students that received a scholarship from Suburban Rotary in 2009.

Kelsey Abel
Iowa School for the Deaf  

Kelsey Abel is a down-to-earth, capable girl who knows what she wants.  Deaf herself, she is the daughter of deaf parents who have taught her that anything is possible with a good education.  Kelsey takes her academics seriously, and is proud to be a member of Iowa School for the Deaf's Honor Society for all four of her high school years. She is also involved in sports and has held many class and club offices. She was voted the most valuable player for her track team two years in a row. She is a mature role model for younger students and volunteers her time tutoring after school.   After graduation, Kelsey plans to go to a community college in Des Moines, Iowa, where she will begin business and photography classes.  She hopes to one day have a business degree and a photography business of her own.  With Kelsey's ability to set and achieve goals, her teachers and her family are confident that she will succeed.

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Genavieve Andersen
Brownell Talbot
  
Genavieve Andersen is friendly, a little shy, and loves to help people with whatever they need help in. She has a learning disability, but has overcome this for the most part.  She is on the LifeTracks Committee (health committee) and helps with props for the Upper School musical.  Along with having a learning disability, she is an amputee.  Because of being an amputee, Genavieve is considering psychology, as she would like to help others like her, and helping people is one of her biggest goals.  Genavieve has been accepted at Wayne State College for the fall semester.

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Robert Dooling
Burke High School
 
Robert Dooling is one of the most academically successful students at Burke High School.  In spite of being born profoundly deaf, he has overcome many obstacles that other students take for granted and has been fully mainstreamed in regular education classes since elementary school.  He is well known for his optimism and is rarely seen in a classroom, or hallway, without a smile on his face.  By using his witty sense of humor and genuine concern for others, Robert reaches out and touches the lives of anyone who is fortunate enough to meet him.  He is a very reliable young man and has both the work ethic and confidence to make a difference.  He truly defines what it means to be exceptional and has the tools to be successful in any endeavors he applies himself to in life.

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Mitchell Kohl
Creighton Prep  

Mitch Kohl is an extremely helpful, conscientious and polite young man.  He hopes to become a lawyer someday. He has already been accepted to TCU, UNL, Arizona State, University of Kansas, Loyola of Chicago and St. Louis University and is waiting to hear from a few others.  I am confident that he will use his talents to help other people in need, for the rest of his life.  

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Shelby Lange
Millard North

Shelby Lange started high school a typical teenage girl.  Although she has always been an honor roll student, she struggled during her freshman year. Symptoms of numbness, extreme fatigue, and difficulty thinking led to a diagnosis of Relapsing-Remitting Multiple Sclerosis, long after the stresses and challenges of high school had already started.   Shelby has faced this disability with a positive attitude.  It has made her realize what's really important in life, and to make each day count.  She has become really focused on her grades, focusing especially on science and math courses.  She has excelled in Honors and AP courses, including Psychology, Biology and Calculus. She is volunteering in the pediatric unit at the UNMC hospital.  She has participated in the NE MS walk, and is organizing a fundraising event at Millard North this year. She is active in the Chemistry club and has a part time job.  Shelby has been accepted at Nebraska Methodist College, majoring in Radiologic Technology. She feels that because of her MS diagnosis, it has shown her the path to her future.

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Stephanie Mitten
Millard South

Stephanie Mitten is an awesome young lady.  She believes school and friendships are important. Stephanie values her family and enjoys spending time with them.  According to the doctors, when she was under one year old, she would never walk or talk.  This high energy young lady has beaten all the odds and is very active in a number of activities.    Stephanie really enjoys Art Club because of meeting new people and creating new projects.  She is also a great help to the adults in the building.  She enjoys working in the Counseling Center and is always willing to help out with whatever is needed.  In her spare time she likes to read and solve word-search puzzles.  Stephanie plans to attend Metro Community College to become a child development specialist.  Even with overcoming 22 surgeries by the age of 16, she always has a smile on her face and a positive attitude.

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Alexander Perault
Bellevue East

Alex Perault is a very outgoing, friendly, and a determined to succeed individual.  He believes an education is of extreme importance.  He does not let his disability keep from doing the things he loves to do, and his disability certainly doesn't keep him from accomplishing his goals.  He is currently a mentee in Teammates, a mentoring program, and has been for six years.  Alex hopes to mentor student(s) when he finishes high school.    He is a member of Future Educators of America (F.E.A); and he has participated in the Explorer's Program for three years.  In school, Alex has been on the honor roll and was awarded "Student of the Week" for starting a "Helping Hand", a program that later led him to working as a custodian after school for two years.  He enjoys working with children at the Omaha Children's Museum, which led to his acceptance at Metropolitan Community College for the 2009-2010 school year.  

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Kiley Peterson
Iowa School for the Deaf

Kiley Peterson appears on the surface to be a very "laid back" girl.  She is easygoing, friendly and relaxed.  But that is just the surface!  Kiley is also a very hard working and involved student, athlete, and volunteer.  She has won several oratorical contests, been on the academic biathlon team, held several student council and class offices, and was president of the ASTRA Club, a community service organization.  She has also been captain of the basketball and volleyball teams.  At the same time, she has managed to be on the honor roll full time, taking several advanced classes in the mainstream high school  with a sign language interpreter.   Kiley has been accepted into the National Technical Institute for the Deaf at the Rochester Institute of Technology in Rochester, New York. She plans to major in criminal justice and science, and someday work as a technician in a crime lab.

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Laura Schaffer
Burke High School

Laura Schaffer is a very friendly, positive, and determined individual.  She takes her academics very seriously and has not let her disability limit her achievements, or strive for her goals.  She has consistently made the Honor Roll and received an Academic Letter, Pin, and induction into the National Honor Society.  Laura played on the girls' basketball team her freshman and junior years.  She is involved in the after school program (club) that teaches sign language to interested Burke students.   Outside of school, she is a member of the Junior National Association for the Deaf, and the Metro regional Program for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, where she has done volunteer work.  During the summer, she has worked for Hy-Vee and PetSmart.  She plans to attend Metro Community College for two years in Computer Graphic Design, and then transfer to UNO to complete her bachelor's degree.

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Jared Soll
Omaha Central  

Jared Soll is a very outgoing, friendly, and determined individual.  He believes that academic achievement is very important.  He does not allow his autism to stand in the way of accomplishing the goals he has set.  He is active in JROTC and he is involved in a Video Game Club.  He also attends sporting and school events.  He enjoys volunteering at the zoo, and also enjoys his job as a church janitor. He likes working with people. He is planning to attend Metro Community College in the fall.