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Donald P. Pobuda Memorial Scholarship
Sponsored by
Livingston
Don was a founding member, board member and third President of the Livingston Sunrise Rotary Club in
If one's life could be summarized into three words, for Don it would have been family, education and community. Don was an advocate for youth and dedicated his professional life to education as a teacher, counselor, coach and superintendent. He touched the lives of thousands of young people during his 30 years in education.
Once retired, Don's quest to help others just continued on. He served as interim Superintendent in 6 different school districts in
Don spent the final 3 years of his life living with leukemia. However, only very few close to Don even knew above his battle with this disease as Don continued his service to others as if there was nothing amiss. In fact, the most heard phrase at Don's funeral was, "I didn't even know Don was sick." This was a tribute to the kind of man Don was to all who knew him: a man of integrity, kindness and loyalty.
The Livingston Sunrise Rotary Foundation wishes to memorialize Don with a scholarship for area youth entering their college years. Though like Don taught us, we want to think outside the box and hence this scholarship will be a little different than most.
The scholarship will be open to any student graduating from a
Our intent is to work with area schools counselors for nominations and hence, the application will be brief. We will put a committee together to review applications, conduct interviews and award the scholarship. Where it will be different is that it will be for $1,000 per year for up to four years. Each year the student having been awarded the scholarship will be able to re apply for the succeeding year. Our intent is to install a set of minimum standards for continuance, but at the same time not over complicate the process.
This accomplishes 2 things.
First, it provides funding for beyond the first year unlike most other one year awards while providing accountability to the student.
Second, it allows for continued contact with the Foundation and mentoring if so desired. It will also keep the recipient connected with Rotary. As these young people progress and excel, we can invite them back to the Club to provide programs in their area of expertise and experience.
Financially, we will need to reserve an additional $3,000 for each scholarship given and draw down from that reserve for each subsequent one year award to the recipient.
From the monies donated to the Foundation as memorials to Don, we are able to fund the first scholarship and are requesting annual donations from the Livingston Sunrise Rotary Club of $4,000 beginning in 2007-08 year and 2008-09 Budget.
In addition, a focused fundraiser may be organized by the Foundation for this scholarship fund which would allow the awarding of multiple scholarships annually or increasing the amount of the award in the future.