Twenty-three years ago, the Rotary Club of Vicksburg committed to the STRIVE (Students Taking Renewed Interest in the Value of Education) program. STRIVE connects adult volunteers to high school seniors to help motivate and improve performance during their final year of high school. Adult volunteers are screened by the school district and meet throughout the year with their students.
This year, 18 students and adult coaches are participating in the program which includes speakers, financial incentives, and opportunities to build connections for life after graduation.
Operating a successful STRIVE program comes with a financial cost, and Oswalt Family Farms have supported the program since its onset in 2001 through the annual STRIVE beef raffle. The Oswalt family donates beef for the raffle, and this year, 8 winners won 1/8 of naturally fed Angus beef, raised locally on the Oswalt Family Farm. This year’s raffle and other donations raised over $5,000 for the local STRIVE program. This year’s winners are Larry Forsyth, Brian Hoffbauer, Kristina Lafferty, Ethan Loiselle, Leah Milowe, Lisa O’Neill, Didik Soekarmoen, and Don Ulsh, who donated his 1/8 to South County Community Services.
