Seward County employees award scholarships to LHS graduates

ROBERT PIERCE
• Leader & Times

Two Liberal High School graduates got a little financial help with their higher education Monday night thanks to the Seward County Employee Committee.

The committee presented two scholarships of $400 each to Mariyvette Aguilar and Jade Rice, who are both children of Seward County employees.

The scholarship will be paid directly to the college the student will be attending in the fall of 2018. If the student decides to attend a different college than what is listed on the application, it is their responsibility to inform the employee committee.

Aguilar is the daughter of Javier, who works with Bennet Construction, and Maria Aguilar, who works in the county administrator’s department. 

Mariyvette is a graduating senior with the Class of 2018 at LHS and plans to attend Pratt Community College in the fall. Mariyvette has been in the National Honor Society all four years of her high school career, was active on varsity tennis her junior and senior years’ receiving her letter award both years.

She was in AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination), Travel Club, and participated in the girls soccer program all four years, lettering for three years and receiving most improved player in 2017. 

Some of her community services include Harvest Festival for Church For All Nations for three years. She also helped with Sunday school and assisted with the church bookstore and coffee shop.

She also helped with enrollment at West Middle School, with a booth for Cinco de Mayo and with the LHS annual track meet. Mariyvette wants to become a forensic scientist.

“She is excited about learning the steps needed to solve crimes and how to put together evidence to reach a conclusion that helps solve those crimes,” employee committee president Cindy Stewart said Monday as she read the bios of the two recipients. “She feels that this career can help her make an impact on her community and can help others. Her parents have always instilled in her a passion for helping others and a willingness to take on challenges when presented.”

Rice is also a graduating senior with the LHS Class of 2018 and is currently a student at Seward County Community College. He is the son of Greg Rice, who works in the county’s maintenance department, and Alaina Rice, who is employed at SCCC.

Jade is active in yearly art competitions and has 33 hours of community service at the Mid-America Air Museum. His honors include the Gold Key Scholastic Art Award, Outstanding Algebra II Student, Outstanding Chemistry Student and the Vice President’s Honor Roll at SCCC.

“Jade’s goals are working with computers to create games as well as other things people can enjoy and have fun with,” Stewart said. “Jade is taking classes to achieve his goals, such as intro to 3-D craft, fundamentals of graphic design and advanced placement studio art.”

This year, Jade has focused on digital design and video manipulation.

“He would like to create video games that don’t have to be monitored by parents as well as games for adults to enjoy,” Stewart said. “His main goals are to create sources of entertainment that anyone can play and enjoy without judgement and that leave them feeling happy and eager to share that joy with others in their communities.”

Stewart said the employee committee congratulated Aguilar and Rice and their parents for a job well done.