Rotary Club of Davenport Awards $48,000 to Four Standout High School Seniors
Scholarship fund born from a WWI memorial continues its century-long mission of investing in Davenport students
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Rotary Club of Davenport Awards $48,000 to Four Standout High School Seniors
Scholarship fund born from a WWI memorial continues its century-long mission of investing in Davenport students
DAVENPORT, Iowa — The Rotary Club of Davenport today announced the four recipients of its 2025–26 Davenport High School Scholarships, awarding $12,000 to each student — one from each of the city's four high schools — to support their pursuit of higher education.
The honorees were chosen from a competitive field for their commitment to serving others, demonstrated leadership in school and community, academic achievement, and the well-rounded character that defines the spirit of Rotary.
The 2025–26 Davenport Rotary Scholars are:
- Lucy Bernick — West High School
- Hunter Morrow — North High School
- Eloise Van Howe — Central High School
- Benjamin Armstrong — Assumption High School
Together, these four students represent the next generation of leaders the club has championed for more than a century — young people whose track records of service and excellence point to bright futures both in Davenport and wherever their paths lead.
“Not the least interesting attribute of Rotary is its youth... Youth is full of possibilities and ginger, and men prefer to conjecture as to what youth may develop into... rather than reverence successful old age.” ~Paul Harris, Rotary Founder
A Living Memorial, Still Building Futures
The scholarships trace their origin to one of the most meaningful chapters in the club's history. On May 29, 1922, the Rotary Club of Davenport established the Rotary Memorial College Loan and Scholarship Fund with a $2,500 donation made in memory of the 276 men and women of Scott County, Iowa who gave their lives in World War I.
What began as an act of remembrance has become a living legacy. For more than 100 years, the fund — sustained by member contributions on birthdays and milestone occasions, along with major gifts from generous donors such as James and Marguerite Dunn and Walter and Alice Ackerman — has helped hundreds of Davenport students pursue higher education. Each year's scholarship class, including this year's four recipients, carries that memorial forward.
A Century of Service in Davenport
Chartered in 1911, the Rotary Club of Davenport is one of the oldest and most active service organizations in the Quad Cities region. For more than 100 years, Davenport Rotarians have strengthened the community through projects that advance education, promote health, expand opportunity, and uplift the next generation.
The club's long-standing investment in youth — scholarships chief among them — reflects a core Rotary conviction: that supporting young people is one of the most powerful and lasting ways to build a better future.
About the Rotary Club of Davenport Founded in 1911, the Rotary Club of Davenport is a service organization of business and professional leaders dedicated to humanitarian service, high ethical standards, and building goodwill in the community and the world. Learn more at www.davenportrotary.org