Algonquin/Lake in the Hills Rotary

Algonquin/Lake In The Hills Rotary

Gordon and Joan Larsen Memorial ScholarshipApplication

2014

PURPOSE:

The purpose of the Gordon andJoan Larsen Memorial Scholarship Fund is to highlight and promote the growth of service and leadership in the areas of business and health care.Gordon, who passed away in November 2003, was a successful businessman who sacrificed his time and resources to make our community a better place for people to live. Joan, who passed away in October 2010, spent many years serving the general public as a nurse and was involved in various community organizations.

Gordon was born, Milwaukee, Wis., April 19, 1921. At the age of nine, he knew business would be his career. He served in the US Army during WWII for about four years.

Joan was born, Benson, Illinois, January 17, 1922. Joan graduated from St. Frances School of Nursing and received her R.N. in 1945.

Gordon served the U.S. in the European theatre of WWII and fought through many of the noted battles. He

participated in the beach landings, Battle of the Bulge, HürtgenForest and Triumphant March into Paris. Gordon

and Joan met at VaughnArmyHospital near the end of WWII. He was a patient and she a student nurse. They were married in May 1946.

Joan continued working in the nursing field for several years. Gordon started Larsen Trucking in1947 and continued to run the business for 48 years until retiring.

Gordon and Joan moved their family to the farm on Pyott Road, Lake in the Hills in October 1963.

Once living on the farm, Gordon and Joan embraced LITH and made the community their home. In the spring of 1964 the dairy barn was remodeled into 12 box stalls suitable for horses. Gordon and Joan started SpringHillFarmRidingSchool and with their five children ran the business for 6 years.

Spring Hill Farm was annexed to the village and Gordon and Joan’s commitment to their community continued to grow for the next 40 years. Many local organizations were recipients of their generosity. Contributions were made to the following; District 300 for LITH Elementary 10 acres, Village of Lake in the Hills 5 acres for the original municipal garage and food pantry, Lake in the Hills Sanitary District received 15 acres, McHenry County Conservation District received 8 acres and the Algonquin-Lake in the Hills Fire District received a two story house used to improve their fire protection skills. Most recently the Village of LITH received Dome Hill and a portion of “THE FEN”, and 1acre site for a new water tower to support the continued growth of the community.

In 1988 the village of LITH appointed Gordon as a Municipal Official to the Economic Development Commission, a position he held for 15 years.

In 1991 Gordon started meeting with a group of local businessman and those meetings led to the formation of Algonquin/Lake in the Hills Rotary, which Gordon, served as a Charter Member.

In 1995 Gordon retired and sold Larsen Trucking to sons Gordon Jr. and Dane. With time on his hand Gordon saw the need for a locally owned bank to serve a growing community. He gathered the necessary resources and organized Illinois State Bank. Gordon served as the Bank’s Founding Chairman of the Board.

In 1996 Gordon and Joan were very flattered when they were asked to be “Mr. and Mrs. Lake in the Hills” and were honored to serve.

Gordon always had a new idea to present to his family, friends or business associates and Joan was always along side as his life partner.

Final Thoughts of Recognition

Over the years Gordon and Joan received numerous awards and recognitions from many worthy organizations that have benefited by theirgenerosity. Some of these are The American Legion, the Village of Lake in the Hills, Jaycees and Jayceettes, Chamber of Commerce, Women's League, Boy Scouts of America...

Gordon spent a significant amount of his life in service to his country, his family and his community without expecting recognition. Gordon passed away in November 2003; Joan continued the spirit of giving to community through the Gordon and Joan Larsen Scholarship, and many organizations in need until the time of her death in October 2010.

CANDIDATE ELIGIBILITY AND REQUIREMENTS (all must apply):

A senior level high school student who has been accepted, and will be attending, or continuing to attend an institution of higher education offering two and/or four year degree programs, on a full time basis as defined by the institution.

Students who qualify to apply for the scholarship must be in the top 50% of their class. Two scholarships will be awarded.Preference for scholarship #1 will be given to business or entrepreneur majors. Scholarship #2 will be awarded to a candidate entering the “medical arts” field. Please indicate at the top of the application whether you are pursuing the business/entrepreneur scholarship or the nursing scholarship.

Residence:

The applicant must be a student in CommunityUnitSchool District #300.

SELECTION PROCESS:

Applications:

Interested students may obtain applications from their high schools or contact Bill Doran at for an electronic copy of the application. If you have any questions, please contact Bill Doran at 847-875-2517. Applications are due to the Secretary, Algonquin/Lake In The Hills Rotary Club at P.O. Box 111 Algonquin, Illinois 60102 with a post mark date no later than April 4, 2014. Applicants may also hand deliver the application no later than April 7, 2014 in a sealed envelope to Bill Doran at Westfield Community School, 2100 Sleepy Hollow Road, Algonquin, IL 60102.

Bill Doran of the Algonquin/Lake In The Hills Rotary Club will notify applicants of receipt of his/her application by mail, phone, or e-mail.
Evaluation:
The Secretary will make each application ready for the Scholarship Committee by insuring that all information is present and that each applicant’s identity is hidden from the Committee.
The Chair of the Vocational Committee of the Algonquin/Lake In The Hills Rotary Club will select the Scholarship Committee members each year prior to the evaluation process.
The Scholarship Committee, made up of three Algonquin/Lake In The Hills Rotary Club members who do not have relatives applying for the scholarship, will review and evaluate the applications and select a winner. The Scholarship Committee will employ the Evaluation Criteria to select a scholarship winner. The Scholarship Committee’s decision is final. The identity of the applicants will remain unknown to the Committee until they have selected the scholarship winner.
The winner will be announced no later than May 10, 2014. The President of the Algonquin/Lake In The Hills Rotary Club will notify the scholarship winner.

EVALUATION CRITERIA:

The Scholarship Committee will evaluate the application based solely on the following:

Community Service/Involvement including:

Service with community or religious organizations

Service through school or community-based service/learning projects

Individual efforts to help others and improve the local community

An essay that each applicant will develop describing why he or she is applying as a candidate for the Scholarship and how the Rotary 4-Way Test applies to his or her life.

High school or previous college academic success and activities (must present transcript)
Applicants are encouraged (not required) to submit two letters of recommendation. The letters of recommendation should not include the student’s name in the body of the letter. Please substitute “the student” in place of the applicant’s name. Pronouns such as he/she or him/her are acceptable.

AWARD:

The Algonquin/Lake In The Hills Rotary Club will award this scholarship in an amount of $1,500.00 per year for four years pending the student is in good academic standing.

This award will be paid directly to the school or to the scholarship recipient upon submission of receipts for approved expenses from a qualifying institution by the Treasurer of the Algonquin/Lake In The Hills Rotary Club, and shall be used only for tuition, on-campus residence and board, academic fees, and required books.

The award year will run from August to July.

Algonquin/Lake In The Hills Rotary

Gordon and Joan Larsen Memorial Scholarship Application

2014

Rotarians and Rotary clubs are encouraged to follow a standard of excellence called The 4-Way Test “Of the things we Think, Say or Do”. This simple four-question test can be readily applied to all avenues of service within the community and to virtually every area of life as follows:

Is it the TRUTH?
Is it FAIR to all concerned?
Will it build GOODWILL and BETTER FRIENDSHIPS?
Will it be BENEFICIAL to all concerned?

Student Profile(Circle One: Business/Entrepreneur or Medical Arts Field)

Name: ______

Last First MI

Permanent ______

Home Street Apt

Address:______

City State ZIP

E-Mail Cell Phone

Birth Date: Home Phone: ()

Month Day Year

Parents:______

Father’s Name Mother’s Name

High School / College Profile

School______Currently Name

Attending:______

Street City State ZIP

Intended______

College Street City State ZIP

Have you been accepted? ______

Community Service

This form is intended to identify and verify the applicant’s involvement in community service. Duplication of this form is acceptable to fully identify all community involvement.

Date Description of Activity Type Place of Service Hours Signature of

(See below) Representative

______

Total Hours ______

The activities listed above fall into the following types:

Youth Serving Youth 6. Environment 11. Hunger & Homelessness
Tutoring, Mentoring, Coaching 7. Health 12. Community Involvement
Supporting Out-of-School Activities 8. Elderly Assistance 13. Literacy and Education
Improving Health 9. Disaster Relief 14. Public Safety and Violence
Developing Career Skills 10. Prevention 15. Helping Serve Others

Other______

SIGNATURES OF RELATIVES OR FRIENDS ARE STRONGLY DISCOURAGED. HOWEVER,IF REPRESENTATIVE’S SIGNATURE IS OF A RELATIVE OR FRIEND OF THE APPLICANT, THAT MUST BE CLEARLY INDICATED.

Academic Success

Requirement:

A transcript of all classes and grades at the current school must be attached.

Cumulative GPA ______SAT Score ______

(On a 4.0 scale)

ACT Score Class Rank of __

Academic Awards ______

Essay

This form is intended for use by the applicant to express why he/she is a candidate for this scholarship and how the 4-Way Rotary Test applies in his/her life.Students who are planning to major in business or are pursuing a nursing degree are encouraged to incorporate their career plans in the body of the letter.