Local students named GE Stars

LYNN-The General Electric Foundation has awarded seven GE Star scholarships to recent high school graduates, contributing $3,500 to each student’s college fund.The students, who are all children of GE employees, qualified for the scholarship by demonstrating superior academic and community service achievements throughout their high school careers.The winning students are; Sochitta Men of Lynn Classical High School/Brown University, daughter of employee Pharinn Men; Nicole Hamilton of Masconomet Regional High School/University of Maryland, daughter of employee Jeffy Usher; Maggie Diu of North Quincy High School/Cornell, daughter of employee Chun Diu; Jamie Gaewsky of Reading High School/University of Rochester, son of employee Janet Gaewsky; Michael Klobucher of Hamilton-Wenham High School/University of Rochester, son of employee Mark Klobucher; In-Goo Kwak of Winchester High School/Tufts, son of employee Yong-Min Kwak; and Bryan LaRochelle of St. John’s High School/WPI, son of employee Mark LaRochelle.The winning students, their parents and designated teachers were also honored at a luncheon hosted by Area Executive Maria Deacon held at the GE-Lynn facility in late June.As a part of the GE Star Awards Program, the GE Foundation will also grant $500 to each student’s high school. The students have the honor of selecting a teacher to designate how the $500 award will be used.The GE Foundation established the program in 1984 to provide competitive awards to children of eligible GE employees and retirees around the world. Since then, more than 10,000 student and teacher awards have been given worldwide for a total of $11 million. The winners are chosen based on their academic record, extracurricular activities and community service, and personal experiences and goals as described in a written statement.The awards are used by the students to help meet their first year’s expenses at a 4-year college or university.The GE Star Awards are administered by the Institute of International Education, an international non-profit educational exchange organization.