Milford Rotary Club Announces 2026 Scholarship Recipients

Sara Uzer May 29, 2026Education, Headlines

Milford Rotary Club Announces 2026 Scholarship Awards for Local Students

The Milford Rotary Club announced its 2026 scholarship recipients honoring Milford High School students and alumni for achievement and service. (Photo courtesy of Milford Rotary Club.)

The Milford Rotary Club announced its 2026 scholarship recipients honoring Milford High School students and alumni for achievement and service. (Photo courtesy of Milford Rotary Club.)

The Milford Rotary Club has announced its 2026 scholarship recipients, awarding funding to Milford High School students and alumni through a range of Rotary and community-supported scholarship programs.

This year’s awards include a major grant from the Warnell Charitable Trust, along with several Rotary scholarships recognizing academic achievement, service, leadership, and perseverance.

The Warnell Charitable Trust awarded $38,000 scholarships to Ms. Omotola Olagundoye of Milford High School and Kenet Perez-Rosales, a Milford High School Class of 2025 graduate who is currently attending the University of Delaware.

Additional scholarship recipients include Mr. Nathan Hague, who received the Rotary Warnell Scholarship ($2,500); Leah Metzner, Rotary Traditional Scholarship ($2,500); Erica Mollura, Interact Scholarship ($2,500); Kenny Ngoc Ung, Rotary Service Above Self Scholarship ($2,500); Madison Stahl, Rotary Perseverance Scholarship ($2,500); and Gregory “Ty” Mackert, recipient of the Dr. William Warren Scholarship ($2,500).

The scholarships are part of the club’s broader effort to support local students pursuing higher education and to recognize service and character within the Milford High School community.

The Milford Rotary Club had previously announced an expanded scholarship program earlier this year, including the addition of the larger Warnell Charitable Trust awards.

Recipients will be recognized at the Milford Rotary Club meeting on Tuesday, June 16 at 5:45 p.m. at Arenas in Milford.

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Sara Uzer is a journalist from Sussex County with more than 15 years of experience as a writer, editor, and community advocate. She started her career in Washington, DC and has lived in Sussex County for the past five years.

Milford Wellness Village helps parents manage care, time and family life
From primary care and pediatrics to childcare, therapy, transportation and pharmacy services, the Milford campus can help families save time, reduce stress and receive more coordinated care. By George Rotsch, Editor of Milford LIVE MILFORD, DE: For a Milford mother juggling work, school schedules, medical appointments and the everyday demands of raising young children, health care can quickly become a maze of separate offices, long drives and missed time. Milford Wellness Village is designed to make that easier. The campus brings together a wide range of health, childcare and family-support services in one location, giving parents a place where they can address many of their family’s needs without traveling from office to office across town — or across the county. For families with young children, that can mean more than convenience. It can save time, reduce stress, help parents keep up with appointments and allow families to spend more of their limited free time together. A parent could visit the campus for primary care, pediatric care, pharmacy support, therapy, childcare, physical therapy or help navigating a child’s developmental or medical needs. For a mother managing care for more than one child — or caring for a child with a chronic condition, disability or behavioral-health need — having so many services in one place can make follow-through more realistic. Primary care, pediatrics and pharmacy in one place Among the key services available at Milford Wellness Village are primary care options for parents and children. Village Primary Care offers full-service primary care for adults and families including preventive care, chronic care, and acute visits. For children and adolescents, La Red Health Center offers pediatric and adolescent care, along with women’s health, oral health, behavioral health and chronic disease screening. That combination can be especially helpful for families that need care for both a parent and a child. The campus also includes Genoa Healthcare Pharmacy, an on-site pharmacy that provides personalized medication support. For parents, that can reduce the extra stop that often comes after a doctor’s appointment. Childcare and specialized support for children The village also includes services that go beyond the traditional doctor’s office. Bright Path Kids offers affordable, high-quality childcare with small group sizes, low ratios and flexible scheduling — an important resource for working parents. Nurses ’n Kids provides specialized care for infants and children with acute or chronic medical needs, developmental delays or nutritional challenges. The program is one of only a few of its kind in Delaware and can be a major source of support for families whose children need more than standard childcare. Families of children with disabilities or developmental needs can also find support through Easterseals, the Delaware Network for Excellence in Autism and the Delaware Assistive Technology Initiative. Easterseals provides children’s therapies, respite services, caregiver support, and case management. The Delaware Network for Excellence in Autism offers training and support for families of children with autism. The Delaware Assistive Technology Initiative helps families access assistive devices for children with developmental or physical needs. Support for the whole family The village’s model also recognizes that parents need support, too. Essential Voyage provides therapy for women and children dealing with issues such as PTSD, anxiety, autism spectrum disorder and depression. Serenity Consulting offers counseling for individuals, couples, children and families. Those services can be especially important for parents managing stress, family transitions, behavioral-health challenges or the emotional toll of caring for a child with complex needs. Aquacare Physical Therapy also serves families through orthopedic care, pelvic therapy and a wellness gym — services that may be useful for mothers recovering after childbirth or parents dealing with pain, mobility issues or injury. For families without reliable transportation, AEC Medical Transport provides non-emergency medical transportation to help patients get to appointments. And for parents moving between appointments, childcare pickup or therapy sessions, the Village Café offers on-campus breakfast and lunch options. Less driving, more family time For a busy parent, the value of Milford Wellness Village may be measured in hours saved and stress avoided. Instead of scheduling appointments at multiple locations, arranging transportation across town, filling prescriptions somewhere else and trying to coordinate childcare separately, families can find many of those services on one campus. That can make it easier to keep children on track with care, help parents stay current with their own health needs and reduce the burden that often falls on families trying to manage everything alone. For Milford families, the village is more than a collection of providers. It is a practical support system — one that can help parents care for their children, care for themselves and still have time left to live life together as a family. Family-focused services and partners at Milford Wellness Village Primary care Village Primary Care Pediatrics and child-focused care La Red Health Center Nurses ’n Kids Pharmacy Genoa Healthcare Pharmacy Childcare Bright Path Kids Therapy and behavioral health Essential Voyage Serenity Consulting Family and caregiver support Easterseals Delaware Network for Excellence in Autism Delaware Assistive Technology Initiative Physical therapy and wellness Aquacare Physical Therapy Transportation AEC Medical Transport Food and convenience Village Café
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Delaware healthcare professionals to gather in Dover for geriatric care symposium
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At the center of that effort are Karen L. Panunto, EdD, MSN, RN, Principal Investigator for the Delaware GWEP and Tracy Harpe, DNP, RN, Co-Principal Investigator for the program. Panunto oversees the more than $5 million federal grant supporting the program and directs partnerships among Delaware State University, Education and Health Research International at Milford Wellness Village, and aging services organizations across the state. Her work focuses on strengthening geriatric education, expanding dementia-capable care, supporting family caregivers, and preparing the next generation of healthcare professionals to meet the needs of an aging population. Building a stronger geriatric workforce The symposium reflects the broader mission of the Geriatric Workforce Enhancement Program, which seeks to improve care for older adults by educating current and future healthcare professionals. Through collaboration between the Wesley College of Health & Behavioral Sciences at Delaware State University and Education Health & Research International at Milford Wellness Village, the program supports education and training in gerontology, chronic disease management, dementia care, and community-based healthcare. Because Delaware State University is a Historically Black College and University (HBCU), organizers say the program also emphasizes reducing health disparities, expanding access to care, and serving underserved communities across Kent and Sussex counties. The agenda focuses on practical senior-care challenges. This year’s symposium theme is “Advancing Age-Friendly Care Across the Continuum: Strengthening Geriatric Care Systems in Delaware through Education, Practice, and Community Partnerships.” The day begins with a Welcome and Opening Remarks featuring: Dr. Gwendolyn Scott-Jones, Dean of Graduate, Adult & Extended Studies | Wesley College Health & Behavioral Sciences at Delaware State University Rabbi Halberstam, Chief Strategy Officer for Education Health & Research International Dr. Karen L. Panunto, Associate Professor/MSN Program Director, & Principal Investigator for Delaware Geriatric Workforce Enhancement Program at Delaware State University Morning sessions will address several key challenges facing seniors and their healthcare providers: Pharmacology and Geriatric Patient: Avoiding Harm from Medication Lois Chappel, DNP, APC, will discuss how aging affects how the body processes medications and explore strategies to reduce medication-related harm among seniors. Advanced Care Planning in Skilled Nursing Facilities Christie Whitlock, MSN, APRN, FNP-C, will present advanced care planning in skilled nursing facilities, helping providers and families better prepare for future healthcare decisions. Guiding an Improved Dementia Experience (GUIDE) Model Clinton Middleton, MSN, APRN, FNP-D, will introduce the GUIDE Model (Guiding an Improved Dementia Experience), which focuses on improving care for individuals living with dementia while providing support for family caregivers. Comprehensive Primary Care: Across the Lifespan Following lunch, Louis Silverstein, MD, will discuss how healthcare providers can deliver coordinated care that addresses the changing physical, emotional, and social needs of adults as they age. Strengthening Geriatric Care Systems in Delaware The symposium concludes with a panel discussion moderated by Dr. Gwendolyn Scott-Jones that explores ways healthcare providers, educators, and community organizations can work together to improve services for older adults. Why the symposium matters Organizers say the topics reflect many of the most important issues affecting seniors today, including healthy aging, medication management, dementia care, caregiver support, mental health, and maintaining independence. The goal is not only to educate healthcare professionals but also to strengthen the network of organizations and providers working to improve the quality of life for older Delawareans. As Delaware’s senior population continues to grow, leaders at Delaware State University, Education Health & Research International, and the Delaware Geriatric Workforce Enhancement Program hope the symposium will strengthen Delaware’s healthcare workforce with knowledge, skills, and collaborative partnerships needed to support healthy aging for years to come. If You Go What: Geriatric Workforce Enhancement Symposium Theme: Advancing Age-Friendly Care Across the Continuum: Strengthening Geriatric Care Systems in Delaware through Education, Practice, and Community Partnerships When: Friday, June 5, 2026 Time: 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Where: Martin Luther King Jr. Student Center, Parlor A, Delaware State University, 1200 N. Dupont Highway, Dover Presented by: Wesley College of Health & Behavioral Sciences at Delaware State University, Education Health Research International at Milford Wellness Village, and the Geriatric Workforce Enhancement Program Who Should Attend: Physicians, nurses, CNAs, social workers, case managers, community health workers, senior-care professionals, students, and caregivers Registration: go.desu.edu/GWEP2026 Cost: Free Purpose: To share education on evidence-based age-friendly care practices that support senior health, wellness, and caregiving with Delaware’s healthcare workforce and community partners.
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Milford Wellness Village to anchor $1.25M federal grant expanding chronic-disease self-management for caregivers and adults with disabilities
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