Rotary announces 9 scholarship winners at meeting

Published 2:00 pm Friday, May 16, 2025

By Gillian Stawiszynski

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Every year, the Rotary Club of Nicholasville awards college scholarships to outstanding Jessamine County students. 

This year had far more applicants than usual. 

Rotary member Morgan Murray was the Scholarship Committee chair, and for the first time, she put the application online. This year, the scholarship had a record number of applicants. Rotary President Ruby Mason said that typically, the club receives about 12 or 13 applicants, but this year, there were 28 applicants. 

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Before announcing the scholarship winners and awarding them certificates, Superintendent Sara Crum spoke in front of the room of Rotary Members, students and their families. 

“First of all, thank you so much to our Rotary Club for having our Jessamine County Schools graduates. Those of you who are scholarship recipients, some of you I’ve known your whole life, and others I’ve gotten the pleasure to meet this year. How proud our school district is of you and your hard work,” Crum said, reminding the young adults to cherish their last few weeks of highschool before their lives change. “Hang on to the last few moments of high school.. We also want to remind our graduates that Jessamine County is always home. You are always a Jessamine County graduate, and we hope that you come back to our community. We want to wish you the best moving forward.”

“It was such a joy to read all your submissions,” Murray said, “and it was so hard to only select 9 of you.” 

The winners were chosen by the scholarship committee, including Murray, Jessamine County Public Library Marketing and Public Relations Coordinator Emily Moon, Dave Laythem, Jim Rogers, David Burt, and Marilyn Murray to name a few. 

The winners include 9 young women from East and West Jessamine High School with grand plans for their futures. 

The first 7 winners received $1,000 scholarships:

Stella Bower from WJHS is going to the University of Kentucky and will be double majoring in finance and marketing. 

Lyla Martin from WJHS is going to Western Kentucky University for business marketing. 

Jae Wilson from EJHS is going to the University of Kentucky for biology. 

Margaret Wilson from WJHS is going to Murray State University for exercise science.

Peyton Wood from EJHS is going to the University of Kentucky for pre-marketing. 

Alex Smith from EJHS is going to the University of Kentucky for economics. 

Alexis Vittitow from EJHS is going to Centre College for economics and finance. 

Two scholarship recipients received special awards honoring former Rotary Club of Nicholasville members. They both will receive a $1500 scholarship.

The Joe McMurty scholarship is named after the long-time Rotarian who “silently labored for education over many years through scholarships,” said State Farm Insurance Agent and Rotarian Randall Chewning. McMurty was a pharmacist and ran a drug mart in Edgewood. “He always stepped up anytime there was something revolving in education.” Another Rotarian added that McMurty always ensured his donations were in confidence.

The winner of the Joe McMurty award is WJHS Senior Clara Brumfield. She will be attending the University of Kentucky for Integrated Strategic Communications. 

The last award is “very near to this club’s heart,” according to Rotarian Tom Herndon. “I joined in 2000 and Pat Nielson was [in the Rotary Club] then. She was the interim principal for the Providence School, and her husband Chirs before passing was also a member of Rotary. Pat was always behind the scenes at our pancake breakfast flipping pancakes. She was a long time member.” Pat died last year. 

The winner of the Pat Nielson award is also going into education. Katy Barkley from EJHS will be attending Asbury University to major in University Education. 

Father of recipient Margaret Wilson, Adam Wilson, made a comment at the end of the meeting. “Thank you everybody. My son won this last year and we appreciated that, it was a huge help. Thank you for nominating Margaret.” Pat Nielson is Wilson’s aunt. “Regarding my aunt, she loved this organization and the people in it, thank you.” 

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