Plymouth Magazine-Summer24-DIGITAL - Flipbook - Page 24
Plymouth and Marie Green
Scholarships Awarded
By Meg Smith (she/her)
On Sunday, May 19, we were excited to recognize our 2024
Plymouth Scholarship recipients! Seven individuals, along with
Plymouth Nursery School, received scholarships funded by
Scholarship bequests and the Plymouth Nut Sale.
The Marie Green Scholarship was founded by the estate of
Marie Green. This year, four Plymouth seniors each received
$750 to be used for books and supplies.
Aryanna Backer
Aryanna will study Architecture
at Iowa State University. Involved
at Plymouth since age 3, she
attended Sunday School, completed
Confirmation, and has sung in choirs
from Kinder through Matins. Aryanna
served with Family Promise, Central
Iowa Shelters and Services, prayer
shawl knitting, and Matins’ Youth
Leadership Team. Aryanna appreciates
Plymouth as a place of welcome and belonging where she has
been encouraged to ask questions and grow in her faith. “I feel
comfortable in my own faith…Plymouth has taught me that it is
okay if my beliefs are different than my neighbors’.”
Savannah Carlson
Savannah is heading to St. Olaf
College this fall. Savannah’s Plymouth
experiences began with 7th and 8th grade
Confirmation, where she connected
with and explored her beliefs. Savanna
credits her years in Matins as a time of
becoming “a more creative, cooperative,
and well-rounded person” and is “very
grateful” to be a part of the community
and fellowship we call Plymouth.
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Hannah Hayes
Hannah attended Plymouth Nursery
School and later was a part of Matins.
She has participated in Creation
Care meetings and has spoken to our
congregation about environmental
justice. Through journaling, Hannah
says she has “come to realize that where
I most often feel God is when I am in
community and serving others.” She is
inspired “to not just accept the things
we cannot change but change the things we cannot accept and
work towards a more loving world that God wants for us.”
Hannah plans to attend the University of North Carolina.
Kiran Kothavale
Kiran has been a part of Plymouth since
second grade: Sunday School, children’s
choirs, Confirmation and Matins.
Kiran volunteered with his family
at Family Promise and completed
Plymouth’s Bible in 90 Days course.
You may recognize Kiran as Plymouth’s
Junior Deacon, a program he restarted
last year and for which he is recruiting
others going forward. Kiran will study
at Boston College and says, “As so much of the world is teaching
hate, Plymouth’s refreshing message of love and acceptance for
all is an uncommon one. Next year in Boston, I will seek out a
church like Plymouth where all are welcomed and loved.”
