Zaccari, Donaldson Noon Rotary Scholarship Recipients

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Published on June 1 2017 9:54 am
Last Updated on June 1 2017 9:54 am
Written by Greg Sapp

Abigail Zaccari of St. Anthony High School and Jacob Donaldson of Effingham High School each received a $1,000 college scholarship from the Effingham Noon Rotary Club. The awards were presented at the club's meeting on May 31.

(NOON ROTARY SCHOLARSHIP COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN JIM EDER, ABIGAIL ZACCARI, PHIL ZACCARI AND CATHY ZACCARI)

This marks the 29th anniversary of the Rotary Club's annual scholarship program, which began in 1989. With the presentation of this year's two scholarships, the club has awarded a total of $48,000 since the program's inception.

The scholarship recipients are selected each year by a committee of club members based upon the following criteria; scholastic ability, extra-curricular activities, activities outside of school, honors and awards, and a 750-word essay. This year's essay topic was "One Nation...For All". 

Zaccari, who ranked 12th in her class at St. Anthony High School with a 3.65 grade point average, will attend Millikin University in Decatur, where she plans to major in live and performing arts management. She has worked as an assistant stage manager at The Little Theatre on the Square in Sullivan for the past three summers.

Zaccari lettered as a member of the St. Anthony High School Bellettes dance team for four years, and she won the Most Improved Dancer award in 2016. She also was a member of both the SAHS Band and the Illinois Music Educators Association District Honor (ILMEA) Band for four years. She placed First on clarinet in the ILMEA Solo and Ensemble competition for 2014-15 and second for 2016-17. Zaccari participated in her high school's musical in each of her four years., and was a member of Yearbook staff in her senior year. She also participated in campus ministry and served as a retreat leader. She is the daughter of Phil and Cathy Zaccari.

(NOON ROTARY CLUB SCHOLARSHIP COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN JIM EDER, JACOB DONALDSON, DAVID DONALDSON AND MELISSA DONALDSON)

Donaldson, who ranked first in his class at Effingham High School with a perfect 4.0 grade point average, will attend McKendree University, where he plans to major in accounting. He is an Illinois State Scholar and a member of the Society for Academic Achievement. He also was a member of Effingham High School's WYSE (Worldwide Youth in Science and Engineering) team and the National Honor Society.

Donaldson also excelled in athletics. He lettered in basketball, track and cross-country. He was All-Conference in track for 2015-2017, All-Conference in basketball for 2016-2017, and All-Area in basketball for 2016-2017. He also is a member of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes and his church youth group. He is the son of David and Melissa Donaldson.

The Effingham Noon Rotary Club's scholarship fund is maintained from the contributions of the club's members for the purpose of honoring and encouraging the scholastic achievements, extracurricular activities and civic accomplishments of the students of Effingham High School and St. Anthony High School.