Rotary's Overcoming Obstacles, 16th Edition
Eight students from Analy and Laguna received scholarships for their resilience
The rapt attention of the Rotary Club of Sebastopol during its Overcoming Obstacles program was topped only by their vigorous encouragement and support of the eight recipients of their scholarship award. Rotary President Kathy Hicks said that the event is the most popular meeting of the year for the club. If you were there, you’d understand why.
In its 16th year, the Rotary’s Overcoming Obstacles program selected eight students (four from Analy and four from Laguna) who have faced significant challenges in their lives and have found a way forward, graduating from high school and setting goals for their future. Each student receives a $3,000 college scholarship, which is supported by the Neil and Amelia McDaniel Family Fund. Emcee Rick Wilson explained all this before introducing the students.
The students were warmly embraced by Rotary members. Before the day of the luncheon, they had met with a Rotary member who helped to coach them on their speeches. During the morning before lunch, the students attended a Leadership Seminar, organized by David Schreibman, who invited adult speakers to share how they had overcome obstacles in their lives.
While the students receive college scholarships, it’s not that all are strong students, though some are. What stands out is their perseverance. Having experienced pain, addiction, loss and abuse, they’ve managed to find support for finishing school and figuring out their next steps as an adult. The lunch is an opportunity for them to speak their truth in a safe place and feel the support and strength of the community. It is an emotional experience for the students as well as for the members of the audience who care about them.
This article won’t go into any of the details of the life stories told by students in their speeches. As one of them said, setting the tone for all of them: “I don’t know if I’ve overcome any obstacles but I’m trying. I’ve learned that overcoming doesn’t mean everything is fixed. It means you keep trying.” All of the students spoke openly and honestly, which is what makes this event that recognizes them so special.
Here are the 2026 Overcoming Obstacles award recipients. These captivating student photos were taken by Rotarian David Schreibman.
Each student identified a person who had helped them along the way, giving them support and guidance. Sometimes it was a social worker but for others it was a school counselor, like Laguna’s Shannon Lawee. All of them do amazing work, often unheralded, in helping kids find their own path in life.
The students stood for a group photo with three people who were part of the morning Leadership Seminar: Carson Pforsich, WSCUHSD Superintendent Chris Meredith, and Terrie Wallen.
Thanks to Thomas Boag and Mia Del Prete and the Rotary’s own photographers, Robin Maybury and David Schreibman, for their help with this story.
Super! And one of the best parts? The caring emotion on the face of Shannon Lawee, the Laguna H. S. counselor.
What an inspiring article. Yes, indeed, a lesson for all of us, as one student said..."Keep trying." Thanks for brightening our days with this story.