City of Hillsboro awards scholarships to 3 HHS seniors

Hillsboro Mayor Justin Harsha presented $2,000 scholarships to three graduating Hillsboro High School seniors during his report at the Tuesday, May 21 Hillsboro City Council meeting.

Accepting the 2024 scholarships were Addyson Miles, Jenna Rhoades and Caden Smith.

“We also attended the HHS senior ceremony on the 17th to present the senior scholarship recipients with a check and recognize them for their submitted essays and videos for the scholarship,” Harsha said. 

Council and others in attendance gave the graduates a round of applause, as Harsha introduced them. According to the mayor, Miles will be attending the University of Kentucky, Rhoades is going to Wright State University and Smith will be attending Southern State Community College this fall.

“I would like to congratulate you, on behalf of the city and myself,” Harsha said. “We wish you all the best.”

Safety and service director Brianne Abbott also congratulated the seniors in her report.

“I was able to review your applications and your essays, and they were very impressive,” Abbott said. “We wish you the best of luck.”

This is the city’s fifth straight year of sponsoring scholarships to Hillsboro seniors, with the support of other generous donors. As previously reported, in 2020 — during the pandemic — the city established the scholarship program as part of an effort to partner with Hillsboro City Schools. Administrators made an announcement in April 2020 seeking participation from businesses or individuals, including offering perks for seniors or accepting donations for the scholarship fund. 

Three $1,000 scholarships were presented to graduating Hillsboro High School seniors in 2020. The program continued in 2021, where two $1,000 scholarships and one $500 scholarship were awarded. In 2022, 2023 and now 2024, the scholarships have increased to three $2,000 scholarships.

Harsha thanked this year’s scholarship supporters, including Horne Law Office, Lawson Roofing and Construction and “a few others who wish to remain anonymous,” as well as the businesses who supported their annual Senior Recognition Week.

This week is another observance instituted by the city to encourage local businesses to offer discounts or free gifts to seniors.

“The week of May 13-17 has been proclaimed as High School Senior Recognition Week, and local businesses have donated items for seniors to utilize,” Harsha said. “Items included Merchants National Bank with a keychain; The Alley Neighborhood Grille with an appetizer card; Highland Lanes gave a free game of bowling; Twisted Violet Homestead was 10-percent off senior shirts; Dairy Queen of Hillsboro was a free Dilly Bar or cone; The Porch Carryout and Grill was 24-percent off a senior meal; Holtfield Coffee was a free latte or mocha; Patriot Public House was a free appetizer card; and Miracle on Meadow was 15-percent off of a full-price item. 

“We couldn't continue this scholarship program or the senior week without our local businesses, so the City of Hillsboro and the seniors are very appreciative of the support. Thank you very much.”

(Editor's note: Stephen Forsha contributed to this article.)

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