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Scholarship Winner 2009 - Shawn Senescall
DSU student Shawn Senescall named as mentor scholarship winner
DICKINSON, ND - The Best Friends Mentoring Program announces that Shawn Senescall, a Dickinson native and Dickinson High School has been selected to receive the sixth annual scholarship awarded to a volunteer in the program.
While a high school senior, Shawn signed up to share some of his free time mentoring a sixth grade boy once a week for nine months. He juggled a full load of classes at DHS, was a member of the DHS tennis team and taught youth tennis lessons.
"I initially signed up for Best Friends to do my part in a community that has given me so much," he said. "I have had fun and gained new perspective. I am thankful for this opportunity."
Shawn spent one lunch hour each week for the entire school year with his Junior Friend, eating lunch at school and doing fun activities with his best friends. Shawn also volunteered at Best Friends' carnivals and other special events."It's fun to work with kids," he said. "Best Friends is a good program and I wanted to be involved."
A Dickinson native, Shawn is a first-year student at North Dakota State University, Fargo, N.D. and the son of Scot and LuAnn Senescall of Dickinson. He graduated in May from DHS. He was a 2008 Mr. Tennis Finalist and named to the 2008 all-state team. Shawn was also named to the 2008 Academic All-State Team and Academic All Conference. He attended the National Leadership Forum for Law in Washington, D.C. and the National Leadership Seminar at the University of Mary.
The Western Wellness Foundation's board of directors established the $500 Best Friends Program Senior Friend Scholarship to help recruit new mentors to the program and to encourage potential mentors to volunteer. To be eligible for the scholarship, the applicant must have volunteered as a Senior Friend with the Best Friends Program for at least nine months, submit an application form and an essay, and be attending post-secondary education or training in the 2009-2010 school year.
The Best Friends Program serves more than 150 children in the eight-county area of southwest North Dakota, matching them one-to-one or in small groups with responsible, trained volunteer mentors. For information about Best Friends, call 483-8615 or 1-877-877-8685 toll free.
Past Scholarship Winners
