Hinckley Chamber awards scholarships to Rupert, Webb

by Chris Studor

Headed to college this fall, both Highland High School seniors Georgia Rupert and Maya Weber have each been awarded a $1,000 scholarship from the Hinckley Chamber of Commerce at the organizations May 2 meeting.

The students were selected from more than 30 applicants.

Accepted at Ohio State University, Rupert said she would like to become a nurse, specifically working in the Intensive Care Unit. She is pursuing her license as a registered nurse and plans to earn a master’s degree. This spring and this summer, she is shadowing nurses at The Cleveland Clinic.

Rupert is active with Our Savior Lutheran Church preparing power point presentations along with food packages for poverty-stricken areas. At Highland High School, she has worked the concession stand during sporting events; assisted at BIONIC night at the middle school as part of the school’s DARE program; and has coached and refereed in the Unified Sports organization. Additionally, she has manned sausage sales at Hinckley’s Annual Buzzard Day and volunteered with the Hinckley Women’s Club.

Among her many other achievements are being chosen for the Junior Leadership Medina County program. Last year, Rupert was selected for Highland’s exchange student program and traveled to Spain. Her family also hosted a student. In addition to serving on the school’s yearbook committee, Rupert participates in the Young Life Christian Youth Group and is active with the Hinckley Highlanders 4-H Club, as part of which she competes each year.

With plans to major in Media Arts Production in the Scripps College of Communications, at Ohio University, Weber has been passionate about producing media since she was a child. She is currently taking digital media class, for which she produces school announcements and creates videos for different organizations and events at school. Her ultimate goal is to work professionally in video production.

Weber is Highland’s senior class president and she also served as junior class president. Her activities including helping out at her church Bible camp each summer, organizing a school-wide volleyball tournament and hosting a Powder Puff event. In the summer, she assists with Safety Town. She is also a volunteer for the Hope Squad for suicide prevention and mental health awareness, and also participates in the Peer Leading and DARE role model programs. She was honored recently at the Medina County Share Cluster as “an outstanding senior committed to prevention in order to live a better life.”

Weber has lettered in rugby, serving as a two-time team captain and leadership member, and softball. She said she has also enjoyed being a member of the Highland Marching band and as a Red Cross blood donor, she is always looking to give back to those in need.

Weber has worked at Michael Angelo’s Winery for several years, seating guests, making coffee and fulfilling bakery orders. She commented that the fast pace of the venue has taught her how to work diligently and under pressure, handle stressful situations and attend to customers. ∞

Photo: Hinckley Chamber of Scholarship winners Georgia Rupert (left) and Maya Webb are pictured with their $1,000 scholarship awards from the Hinckley Chamber of Commerce. The ladies were presented with their awards at the Chamber’s meeting on May 2. Photo by Chris Studor