05/08/2026
The Rochester Lions Club awarded three scholarships in the amount of $1,500 each to graduating Rochester High School seniors Alex Graff, Carson Berberet, and Hannah Rollins. The scholarships are intended to provide assistance and incentive for the students to further their educational goals and are based on both
perceived need and personal/academic achievement. To be eligible for a scholarship, applicants needed to be graduating seniors at Rochester High School and planning to enroll as a full time
student at a college or university. Applicants were required to submit
an application form and extensive student information. Candidates were asked their reasons for selecting their projected area of study and their future professional goals, as well as being asked to provide
information on current and past school and extracurricular activities. Each applicant’s community service activities, work experience, hobbies, and special interests were also considered, along with
transcript information, letters of recommendation, and a personal letter.
Graff plans to pursue Aerospace Engineering at Iowa State University.
He has a lifelong interest in cars,rocket science, and engineering, and is active in the Rochester robotics team.
Berberet looks forward to enrolling in Information Technology Engineering at the University of Missouri-Columbia. He would like to concentrate on cyber security and is active in sports playing soccer, football, and basketball.
Rollins will enter the Pharmecutical Sciences program at Purdue University
working toward a nuclear pharmacy certification. She is a Spanish speaker actively involved in theater, band, and choir, and has a 4.0 GPA.
“We certainly wish all of our scholarship recipients the best of luck in the postsecondary careers. It is a very exciting time for them and the Lions organization is especially pleased to be a part of and help
support their educational efforts” noted Dr. John Shoudel, Lions Board Member and Boo Crew Hauntmaster. The main fundraiser for the Rochester Lions Club is the Boo Crew Haunted House. The majority of the money raised by the Lions stays in the local and surrounding communities, much of it going directly to
individuals. The Lions Club is one of the largest and oldest community service organizations in Rochester and supports several groups working with the visually impaired as well as remaining actively
involved with supporting the Rochester School District.