For many years, local Kiwanis have been singling out stellar students, then handing them cash awards for a high school job well done.

This year, those scholarships in the amount of $1,500 went to four local Key Club members: John Frederick “Jay” Campbell and John C.S. “Jack” Rodman, both recently graduated from the Washington High School, Martaleigh Cotten O’Neal from Northside High School and Antonio Elroy Guion from Southside High School.

While WHS staff selected recent graduates Addie Van Salisbury and Robin Thompson as recipients of the Kiwanis-administered Edmund Harding $500 scholarships, a Kiwanis scholarship committee chose the first four winners based on a set criteria, according to Marcian Bouchard, who handles publicity for the Kiwanis Club.

“Scholastic performance, school activity, Key Club activity and a certain amount of need is taken into account,” Bouchard said. “There are plenty of kids around here who really need scholarships.”

The Washington Kiwanis Club sponsors Key Clubs in county high schools, partly as a way to instill the mission of service in young people, Bouchard said. In addition to the high school Key Clubs, Kiwanis are looking at more youth-oriented programs like Builders Clubs to become a part of local middle schools, as well as Action Clubs, for the mentally challenged.

Both the Edmund Harding awards and Rodman’s award, the Christopher Francisco Memorial Scholarship, are specially funded. Though the other scholarships are provided for by Kiwanis fundraising throughout the year — including its annual lobster sale — the Christopher Francisco Memorial Scholarship is paid for by Scholarship Committee Chairman David Francisco and family in honor of his late son.