The Deerfield Park Foundation is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2015-16 Linda Gryziecki College / Post-
Secondary Scholarships. Two, $1,000 scholarships were available this year, one for a graduating high school senior and
one for a current college student in their first, second or third year. Jamie Clarke from Deerfield High School won in the
high school senior category and Emily Hansen won in the college-age group. The awards will be presented in a ceremony
at the Deerfield Park Foundation’s board meeting at Jewett Park Community Center, in Deerfield, on Monday, July 20,
2015, at 7:00 p.m.
Jamie Clarke’s goal is to become a neurosurgeon or medical researcher in the fields of neuroscience, neuropsychology or
stem cell treatments and initiate studies and research methods to make healthcare and medical treatments more effective,
efficient and widely available for people who suffer from a range of diseases and conditions. Jamie has worked as a
Deerfield Park District After School Care Supervisor as well as a Camp Counselor at the Deerfield Park District’s
Summer Camps. Over the years Jamie has learned that “in order to truly find happiness and fulfillment in your life you
need to be able to forget about yourself and do things for the sake of making another person smile.”
Emily Hansen has worked with Deerfield Park District for the past four years. She has held various positions throughout
her tenure including lifeguard, swim instructor, and has worked at the Sachs Recreation Center. In addition, she
volunteers for Deerfield Park District events. This fall, Hansen will enter her sophomore year at Carroll University in
Waukesha, Wisconsin, studying to become a special education teacher. Her goal is for her future career to involve
teaching children with learning disabilities and incorporate her knowledge of the Spanish language. She knows that her
future career will be challenging, but has “the heart and commitment to succeed.”
The Scholarship is named after Linda Gryziecki who retired as Deerfield Park District’s Executive Director in 2011 after
serving the District for 38 years. The Scholarship was started in 2012 with a single category of high school graduates and
college students alike competing for the $1,000 scholarship. Now, two $1,000 scholarships are offered, one at the high
school level and one at the college level.
Selections are based on a combination of criteria including work and/or volunteer experience, community service, a
minimum of a 3.0 out of 4.0 cumulative grade point average, application form submission with essay and letters of
recommendation, and, for semi-finalists, an interview with a committee of Deerfield Park Foundation Directors. This
year, Scholarship Committee Chair Chris Goodsnyder, along with Foundation Board Members Dan Appelbaum, Dan
Leuthner and John Mann, served on the Committee.
On Monday, July 20, Clarke and Hansen will receive their awards at the Deerfield Park Foundation meeting at 7:00 p.m.,
at Jewett Park Community Center. The recipients are invited to bring family and friends to the presentation which will be
led by Linda Gryziecki. The Deerfield Park Board of Commissioners was instrumental in bringing these scholarships to
fruition.
The Linda Gryziecki Scholarship is administered through the Deerfield Park Foundation, the fundraising arm of the
Deerfield Park District, supporting programs and services, including: Grants-In-Aid for residents in serious financial need
to attend Deerfield Park District programs; projects such as Deerfield’s ThorGuard Lightning Predication System,
Recycling Containers for parks and park/school locations; the Linda Gryziecki College Scholarships and more.
The Foundation thanks all of the candidates who applied for this year’s Scholarships, congratulates them on their fine
accomplishments, and wishes them the very best in the years to come. The Foundation plans to continue to offer the Linda
Gryziecki Scholarships for the 2016-17 school year. Next year’s application process is expected to begin in March, 2016.
To contribute to the Linda Gryziecki Scholarship or for more information about the Deerfield Park Foundation, please
visit www.deerfieldparkfoundation.org,