The Peoria North Rotary Club has awarded educational scholarships to four Northwest Valley graduating high school seniors. 

Each student received a $3,000 George and Willi Wheeler Scholarship during a recent club meeting. Two of the students are from the Peoria Unified School District and two are from the Deer Valley Unified School District.

The scholarship was created in 2023 and named after two long-time club members: George and Willi Wheeler. George was a founding member of the Peoria North Rotary Club and a former Arizona Rotary District Governor. He passed away in 2022.

This year’s recipients are:

• Seth Bucher, a student at Peoria High School who plans on attending Gordon College in Massachusetts.
• Isabella Shin, a student at Mountain Ridge High School who will be attending Princeton University.
• Kinley Sterne, a student at Deer Valley High School who will be attending Arizona State University.
• Brooklynn Valverde, a student at Centennial High School who will be attending Arizona State University.

The object of Rotary is to encourage and foster the ideal of service as a basis of worthy enterprise. The scholarship recognizes high school students who demonstrate strong leadership skills that include opportunities to serve humanity.

The Rotary scholarship may be used for any school-related payments such as tuition, books, software and/or equipment at any accredited college, university, vocational school, or certificate program.

The Wheelers were strong supporters of education and instrumental in organizing a variety of club projects aimed at promoting literacy. The club recognizes Students of the Month at several Peoria high schools and has sponsored several book drives to benefit Peoria schools.

“All during their dedicated careers in Rotary, the Wheelers traveled to many countries to distribute schoolbooks, administer the polio vaccine, provide computers to schools and bringing goodwill to underprivileged children,” said Darlene Eger, president of the Peoria North Rotary Club.

“Their dedication to helping children is the reason the George and Willi Scholarship was founded. It is Rotary’s desire to help as many students as possible to achieve an education and eventually hoping to eliminate poverty throughout the world.”

The Peoria North Rotary Club was founded in 2005 and is a nonprofit community service organization. Members conduct service projects that benefit local food banks, veterans’ organizations and other local charities.

The club’s primary focus is serving youth in the community. In addition to the education scholarships, the club supports Peoria schools, hosts the annual Prom Closet, provides food to local school pantries and more.

The club meets 6 p.m. Wednesdays at Charly’s at the Lakes, 19260 N. Westbrook Parkway, Peoria. Visitors are always welcome.

The application can be found at www.peorianorthrotary.net.

Mark your calendars! 

The Peoria North Rotary Club is excited to announce our annual dinner event will be held 5 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 28 at Briarwood Country Club in Sun City West.

This year, we're transporting you back to the glamour and intrigue of a night at a speakeasy, promising an unforgettable experience filled with fun, fellowship, and celebration.

Join us on February 28, 2026, for “A Night at the Speakeasy,” an evening that will surely be a highlight of the year. We encourage you to dress in your best 1920s attire to fully embrace the theme and add to the festive atmosphere. Expect great food, lively entertainment, and the company of fellow Rotary members and friends.

Tickets are $125. All proceeds benefit the Peoria North Rotary Charitable Fund, a 501(c)(3) supporting education, health and wellness, polio eradication, veterans, The Prom Closet and more.

For information, contact Darlene Eger at deger@cox.net or Margaret Fried at marghankfried@yahoo.com.

Peoria North Rotary Club honored its Students of the Month at Deer Valley and Mountain Ridge high schools at its Nov. 19 club meeting. Students each received a $150 stipend as well as the name of a person in Mexico who received a wheelchair in their name.

The club recognizes students of the month at 10 high schools throughout the Peoria Unified School District and Deer Valley School District.

Students recognized from Deer Valley High School were Ashlyn Riley, August; Ezra Zufelt, September; and Shelby Rosenlof for October.

Students recognized from Mountain Ridge High School were Abbie Smith, August; Shahin Madantschi for September, and Isabella Shin for October.

Congratulations to all students and their parents!