Mt. Pleasant Youth Bridge students in High School will be offered college scholarship opportunities this school year from the Elsie Kinney Memorial Fund and the American Contract Bridge League (ACBL). The Kinney Scholarship will be $500. Elsie was a 90 year old bridge player who established a memorial to help sustain youth bridge in the local community. $920 was raised and we plan to have the first year of a scholarship award of $500 to a high school senior bridge student. We hope to sustain this scholarship with the community support and fund raisers.
An ACBL scholarship is also $500 plus a potential additional $350 stipend for a senior that instructs 8 students 16 lessons in duplicate bridge during the current school year. Thus the ACBL total potential individual scholarship can be $850 for a Senior High School Bridge Student. Rose Steffensmeier was awarded the ACBL scholarship in 2013.
Two local teachers and strong supporters who helped start youth bridge in Mt. Pleasant, Rosemary Peck & Sue Loescher, will have applications and will announce the scholarship winners in 2014. A meeting at the High School with support of the Principal was held Tuesday, 17 Dec. with 11 students signing up to participate. A bridge club, directed by Jean Steffensmeier, will be started at the High School. Another first in Mt. Pleasant, Bridge Capital of south east Iowa!
A competition of youth bridge players is planned between Mt. Pleasant bridge students and the Winfield youth bridge players at our local Sectional April 4-6, 2014. Put the date on your schedule!