By Lookout Staff

May 21, 2014 -- Fourteen students from four middle schools, four high schools and Santa Monica College were recognized at the 2014 Rotary Club of Santa Monica scholarship awards luncheon on Friday.

The Club handed out more than $10,000 in scholarships during the event at the Fairmont Miramar Hotel in Downtown Santa Monica. The scholarship money was divided among 14 students chosen “based upon a combination of academics, community service and leadership,” Rotary Club officials said.

“The applicant pool was very competitive," said Susan Annett, Rotary Scholarship Committee Co-chair. "It was a welcome challenge to select such deserving students.”

The students were selected by a committee appointed by the Rotary Club Board of Directors.

Among those honored was Santa Monica College (SMC) student Maria Garcia Hernandez, who won the $1,000 Nick Holt scholarship, named for a former Rotary Club vice-president.

SMC students Pavel Bokarev and Taynara Costa Moura each received the $750 Archie Morrison Scholarship.

This year, the Rotary Club of Santa Monica offered a new $1,500 scholarship to SMC student Jesse Ramirez, which was made possible by LA Tax Associates and current Rotarian Linda Teixeira.

Santa Monica High School was also represented. Aly Khan Bhamani and Emma Polhemus were each presented with $1,000 scholarships, in honor of past Rotary Club presidents Russell Hart. 

Aubrey Dondick was given $1,000 in honor of Clyde Smith, a community activist in the Pico Neighborhood who died in 2009, and Mayra Cuellar was awarded $1,000 in honor of Tom Fox, who served as Rotary President from 1955 to 1956

Amanda Huffman from Olympic High School and Spencer Cappiello from New Roads High School also were each awarded $1,000 scholarships.

It wasn't just the big kids who got to play, either.

Kyla Walker from John Adams Middle School, Kyle Hadfield of Crossroads Middle School, Anaya Beckles-Banks from New Roads Middle school and Christopher Aguilar from Lincoln Middle School each got a $100 Citizenship Award.

Rotary Club of Santa Monica meets each Friday at 12 p.m. at the Riviera Country Club, 1250 Capri Drive, Pacific Palisades.

For more information call (310) 917-3313 or visit www.rotaryclubofsantamonica.org.