QND, QHS students recipients of awards given by Quincy Service Club

QUINCY — Two Quincy students recently were recipients of two awards given by the Quincy Service Club.

The Bud Willer Scholarship Award winner was Kaitlyn Brown of Quincy Notre Dame.

The purpose of the Bud Willer Scholarship Award is to recognize high school students who have overcome great physical, emotional or social obstacles and are now eligible for high school graduation. This program helps encourage students who are often overlooked for their accomplishments and serves as an example that hard work and perseverance are rewarded.

Brown, a member of the QND tennis team, lost both of her parents in a seven-month window. David Brown died on Dec. 17, 2023, and Cindy Brown died on July 16, 2024.

The Lenny Biallas Youth of the Year was Anshu Podaralla, a student at Quincy High School.

Six Youth of the Month winners were qualifiers for the award and a $2,500 scholarship. Other qualifiers Anna Venvertloh and Katherine Tu of Quincy High School and Daniel Dyer, Benjamin McDonald and Lauren McDowell of Quincy Notre Dame. All six submitted an essay to be judged and graded.

Podarella is ranked No. 1 in the Class of 2025 at QHS with a grade-point average of 4.79.