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Trio earn scholarships from local Optimists

Photos provided.

Malina Fairchild, Rebecca Smith and Ana Wenning are the recipients of a $1,000 scholarship from the Huntington County Optimist Club.

The Huntington Optimist Club offers scholarships to Huntington County residents who are high school seniors.

Applicants are reviewed on the basis of academic achievement, community involvement, letters of recommendation from teachers and non-teachers and an essay addressing the impact of optimism on their daily lives.

Malina Fairchild is the daughter of Mark and Darlene Fairchild of Huntington. She completed her senior year at Huntington North High School and plans to attend Huntington University where she will study Linguistics.

While in school she participated in jazz and pep band, track, tennis, art club, camera club and drama club. She was a math tutor and member of the National Honor Society.

She also attended classes at the Korean Saturday School at Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne.

Rebecca Smith is the daughter of Jon and Krystal Smith of Warren. She completed her senior year at Huntington North High School as the Salutatorian and plans to attend Purdue University to pursue a degree in animal science.

While in school, Smith participated in volleyball and softball where she was a scholar athlete. She participated in freshman mentoring; FFA, the national soils competition and was a member of National Honors Society.

She was also a member of the Mt. Etna United Methodist Church Youth Group.

Ana Wenning is the daughter of John and Rachel Wenning in Huntington. She completed her senior year at Huntington North High School and plans to attend Indiana Wesleyan University where she will study Elementary Education and Special Education.

While in school she participated in Varsity Singers, Concert Choir, Future Educators of America, National Honor Society and the Youth Leadership Academy. Outside of school she served as a choreographer of the Children's Choir Camp and YMCA Camp and participated in a missions trip to Haiti.