Emily Jo Duits
www.emilyduits.com

 

2009 Emily Duits Memorial Scholarship

Since 2005, the Emily Duits scholarship has given out $15,000 in awards to Lakewood students that exemplify the same characteristics and qualities that were also found in our Em.  We have been able to do this by the generous support of this Lakewood community, by the attendance and giving at the annual Emily Duits Memorial weekend events and by so many that love Emily. 

Typically this scholarship is an open one where anyone can apply.  This year we decided to do something different and it was not open to the normal process where the scholarship committee scores each application and gives the top 3 score to our family for interviews and a final determination.  Part of the normal process is to write an essay on what your high school experience has meant to you as Emily loved and appreciated all that Lakewood has to offer and all that a high school experience can bring.  This years recipient, Hannah Duits, mirrored that in Emily!  We decided to for-go the normal process and award Hannah not because of the relationship but because of Hannah's heart!  It is our family's privilege to bless someone else's life through the giving of this award though we wish that the circumstances of this scholarship we were never a part of.

Below is a portion of the award letter that our family gave to Hannah that may better describe what she is about.
 

"We know what a tough road this has been for you as well as all of us.  We appreciate your deep love for Em and how you've always kept her close in your heart.  No one can deny how much you miss her and how you've taken her memory and lived in such a way to keep part of her alive.  You've appreciated life and all that the fun that the high school experience can provide and yet we know the personal pain you feel of life now without her here physically.  RemEMber to continue to live this life the very best you can under any circumstances that we find ourselves in and never forget that one day we all will be reunited.  Praise the Lord for that! 

   We appreciate that no matter what life has brought you that you find a way to persevere and how you found so much joy in high school.  We think it's way cool that you were a manager of the basketball team to continue to be with your friends.  Em played on the B-team in basketball for those same reasons.  It shows the love you have for your friends and how much they mean to you.  Also, we appreciate how you always had that same deep love for the game of volleyball like Em and enjoyed every game you played whether it be on the court or in the sand at some random tournament.  And what about all those Homecoming activities?  Float buildings, crazy spirit week dress-ups and decorating the halls.  Those are some great times to always be treasured along with always enjoying and being a part of the "Wood".

   We further and mostly appreciate your love for your family and for the Lord....another similarity between you and Em.  Always keep those as a priority because when it's all said and one, it's the only thing that is a constant and that always remains.  It's what truly helps us through all life's struggles and where we can find our deepest joys."


Congratulations again, to this years 2009 Emily Duits Memorial Scholarship recipient, Hannah Duits.

 

Past Recipients

2006 Emily Duits Memorial Scholarship recipient:   Chelsea Brehm

2007 Emily Duits Memorial Scholarship recipients:   Natalie O'Reilly
                                                                                  Lacey Chase
                                                                                  Rachell Kent

2008 Emily Duits Memorial Scholarship recipient:   Michael Barbour

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