The Seymour Rotary Club is up to nothing but good. Every year the club chooses at least two area high school students to receive the Jerry Garner Scholarship Award. The award is named after former resident, and charter Rotary Club member, Jerry Garner. Garner had been a branch manager for Home Federal Bank before he passed away. The Rotary Club decided to create a scholarship award in his name.
According to former Rotary Club President, and Seymour High School Principal Bruce Wilson, two students are chosen every year. Those students receive scholarship ranging between $1,500 and $2,000.
“The size of the scholarship awarded depends on the amount of money we can raise during the year,” said Wilson. “We use the 5K race and the golf tournament to raise those funds,” he added.
The 5K race Wilson mentioned is coming up soon. On August 16th, Joseph Karl, publisher of The Seymour Herald, presented current Rotary Club President Richard Baker with a $500 check, thus making the paper the major sponsor of this year’s event. “This money gets us off to a great start,” said Baker. “I can tell it’s going to be a great year.”
Businesses in and outside of the community also support this event for smaller amounts. For sponsorships, company logos will be placed on the t-shirts worn during the race and sold to the public. In addition, all sponsors will receive mention in this paper.
In awarding the scholarships, Wilson said need is a primary deciding factor. After students send in applications a select committee reviews them. This year Seymour High School 2002 graduate Cherish Widner received a $2,000 scholarship as well as Katie Baker, a graduate of the King’s Academy, who also received at $2,000 scholarship.
If you are interested in sponsoring the Tenth Annual Seymour Rotary 5K Classic this year, please contact this newspaper (865-577-6776) or any Seymour Rotary Club member.

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