Chamber awards business scholarships to area students

$2,000 awarded to two local students

 Patrick Zito        Jessica Gronset

The Cary Grove Area Chamber of Commerce awarded two business scholarships to local students this spring. The award, totaling $2,000, is an investment in our youth and the future of our business community. The scholarships are intended to encourage local students to pursue college interests that might impact area business.

“Over the years the Chamber has given away more than $20,000 in scholarship awards to local high school students who are pursing business related studies,” said Chamber Executive Director Suzanne Corr. “We are proud to make this investment in our local youth who may someday become future business professionals and owners right in our community.”

This year’s recipients of $1,000 scholarships each were Patrick Zito and Jessica Gronset. The two recipients were exemplary students during their years at Cary-Grove High School. Patrick is an Illinois State Scholar. He was Captain of the Business Team, which won the Marquette University High School Competition. He was Drum Major of the school’s Marching Band for 2 years, first chair saxophone for the Concert Band, and a teacher’s assistant for classes on Computer Skills and Introduction to Business. His list of accomplishments is impressive. He is an Eagle Scout, co-founded a student Christian group called “The Uprising,” and participated in the Pit Band, Jazz Band, Speech Team, Basketball Team, Tennis Team, Spanish Club, school play and more. Patrick will be attending Marquette University in the fall majoring in biomedical engineering. For the past two years, Patrick has been the emcee for the the Chamber’s Cary Grove’s Got Talent Competition during the Community Showcase.

Jessica Gronset is a National Honor Society member and captain of the Cary-Grove Swim Team. She was a member of the French Club and participated in the Chamber’s Miss Cary Business Scholarship Pageant in 2009. Jessica is a member of her church’s youth group and every summer has participated in mission trips to help other communities. She traveled to New Orleans where she worked with a team of students to help tear down and clean up people’s homes destroyed by Hurricane Katrina so they could start over. She works as a lifeguard at the Trout Valley pool, as a swim teacher at the Cary Park District, and as a cashier at Ace Hardware. Jessica plans to study business at Illinois State University. Her dream is to open a restaurant in the area some day.

The Chamber’s Scholarship Fund is supported through donations from local business. True Value Manufacturing is a major contributor to the Scholarship Fund. The Chamber’s annual Garden Walk is the largest fundraiser for the fund. The Chamber also makes contributions from the proceeds from other activities.

True Value Manufacturing - Scholarship Sponsor

Recipients over the years

2009
Travis Weber
Andrew Siles

2008
Amanda Listak
Ryan Seiter
Sarah Pettigrew

2007
Ashley Howe
Robert Clanton
Ellen Smialek

2006
James Kreher
Dena Tarosas
Brien Spoden

2005
Dena Nord
Erica Zamudio
Robert Schellenberg

2004
Mike Karls
Milly Bedell

2003
Tessa Parker
Colleen Cassidy

2002
Geneva Hillard
Erin Strand
Amy VonBergen
Katherine Wilford
David Walters
Joshua Cummins
Dane Erbach

2001
Kristine Elizabeth Sedivec
Jared Moon