Champions Banquet Honors Local Community Members, Students

The Optimist Club’s annual Wednesday is as much a sign of spring in St. Clair Shores as blooming flowers.

This year, the 13th annual banquet will be held at Blossom Heath Inn and will award scholarships to various students, and champion medals to community members who have gone above and beyond in their volunteer efforts for the benefit of local children and families.

This year’s Champion honorees are the following:

• Matt Ahearn, former city council member and president of the former parade council for 10 years.
• Kathleen Joerin, who established a local chapter of the Compassionate Friends, which provides emotional support to grieving parents.
• Bob Hovis, who has raised thousands of dollars for Cops for Kids.
• Robert Stewart, owner of in St. Clair Shores, who has donated time and services to children for generations.
• The , which recently won a state championship. The Optimist Club grants a Champion Medal to local groups or organizations that have earned first place in state competitions.

Scholarships are also awarded in four major categories to high school students from , and schools.

The Outstanding Fine Arts awards are granted to students who placed first, second or third in the 2010 Lac Ste. Clair Fine Art Fair, held last September. Students from each of the three districts will be recognized with cash awards.

The Only the Best Award is given to a student from each district who strongly exemplifies the characteristics of the Optimist Creed (to think only of the best, to work only for the best and to expect only the best) through participation in cocurricular activities.

The Outstanding Sportsmanship Award is granted to varsity sports students who strongly exemplify team spirit on and off the court or field.

The Optimist Club of St. Clair Shores Scholarship Award is the biggest award of the evening, and this year, it has become more valuable through the generosity of Roy O’Brien Ford. The club annually awards four $1,000 scholarships to a student from each of the three high schools plus North Lake Alternative High School.

has donated an additional $4,000 toward this year’s scholarships, bringing the total award to $2,000 for each student.

Students who qualify for this award must have made a major positive change in their performance, behavior or outlook during their high school years.

“We are extremely thankful to Mark O’Brien and the Roy O’Brien Ford Family for this generous donation. This additional money will make the difference for each of our recipients who may choose to attend a college or trade school,” said Debbie DePape, Optimist Club secretary. “The donation was totally unexpected, and the club is very fortunate that Mr. O’Brien saw the benefit of this signature Optimist event in providing students with a means to a positive change in their future.”

The Optimist Club of St. Clair Shores is an 18-year-old organization that has awarded more than $36,000 in scholarships to date. The optimists organize many charitable projects throughout the year, including the Rapid Search Child ID Program, Thanksgiving baskets for families in need, Secret Santa Bicycle Delivery, and the Santa Station at the Selinsky-Green Farmhouse.

Tickets to the 13th annual Champions Banquet are available at the door for $35 each. Doors open at 6 p.m., and a buffet dinner will be served at 7 p.m.