Service-minded Firth and Shelley students could earn $300-$500 Kiwanis Club scholarships

SHELLEY — Seniors from Shelley and Firth could earn scholarship money for serving their communities.

The Kiwanis Club of Shelley is looking for youth who have gone above and beyond to serve their community. These youth could earn between $300 and $500 in scholarships if they submit their application before the deadline on April 1.

“The scholarship is based around service that our youth do for their communities. So we’re looking for a student who gets invested in their community. That they are not only participants in a passive way but that they are part of the planning of these service projects and everything,” Kiwanis Club of Shelley secretary and treasurer MerAnda Miller said.

To apply for the scholarship, students need to speak to their school counselor and get an application form. They then need to write an essay detailing what they did for their service project.

In the essay, the applicant should describe what service they have done while in high school, focusing on the current school year. The applicant should describe one specific project that they organized and how it impacted the community.

“What stands out the most is a student that has gone the extra mile out of what the normal is to really prove themselves as caring for the community and caring to do work outside of themselves,” Shelley Police Chief Rod Mohler said.

Mohler is a member of the Kiwanis Club of Shelley. Every year, he and a few others review the scholarship applications.

He explained that he views normal service projects as projects organized through church groups or school groups.

“They’re all really good, but we’re looking for the ones that really stand out. That are caring for the community and have good leadership capabilities,” Mohler said.

Miller said the club tries to award at least two students from Firth and Shelley the scholarships. However, that is not a set number and it is possible for more students to receive scholarships depending on the quality of the applications.

There is not a set date when the club awards the scholarships, though, it is often in May.