Danielle Tucker Awarded Optimist Scholarship
March 24, 2008
On Wednesday, March 19, Danielle Tucker was specially invited to attend one of the Optimist International weekly meetings in Norfolk, NE. Norfolk’s Optimist Club holds their meetings at Prenger’s Restaurant every Wednesday morning at 7:00 a.m. Tucker received her invitation because she had submitted an essay and won the club’s annual scholarship contest.
“Today’s Choices Shape Our Future” was the 2008 theme for the Optimist Scholarship Essay. Many high school students around the Norfolk area submitted essays to be considered for the scholarship. Timothy Kwapinoski, Bel Air Elementary School’s Principal, was head of the scholarship committee. Out of all the entrants, Kwapinoski chose Tucker’s essay to receive the scholarship. For winning the contest, Tucker received a $150 scholarship, first place medallion, and a certificate. Norfolk’s Optimist Club invited Tucker to one of their weekly meetings so she could read her essay and receive her prizes.
Tucker’s essay, which was about her contributions to the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, now moves on to the district competition, which is held in Gretna, NE. The district winner will receive a $650 scholarship and move on to the national competition. Kwapinoski commented “All of us at the Optimist Club wish Danielle the best of luck during the district competition. We think she will represent our region very well.”
Danielle Tucker is the daughter of Dawnn and Joe Tucker. She is a senior at Pierce High School, where she has actively participated in many extracurricular activities. Next year, Tucker plans on attending UNL, where she will major in fashion merchandising.
