The Junior League of Springfield (JLS) is proud to announce the 2018 recipients of the Mary Riley Wolfe Memorial Scholarship.

The Mary Riley Wolfe Memorial Scholarship is a tribute to past president Mary Wolfe, who lost her battle with breast cancer after serving generously in leadership within JLS. It has been awarded each year since 1995 to outstanding young women from southwest Missouri who exemplify dedication to improving ones community through volunteer service. This year, the Scholarship Committee awarded two scholarships in the amount of $1,500 each.

The 2018 recipients of the JLS Mary Riley Wolfe Memorial Scholarship are: Akila Anandarajah (Central High School) and Grace Fairchild (Aurora High School).

Akila has donated over four hundred hours of combined service to Mercy Hospital, the Springfield Library Center, and tutoring at the Boys and Girls Club. She is a gifted musician, receiving a 1 Rating from the Missouri Music Teachers Association in 2015 and 2016. Her composition was nationally recognized in the January 2017 issue of Clavier’s Piano Explorer and she has received a top rating of 5 at National Federation of Music Clubs competition for the past eleven years. In addition, Akila was a National Merit Finalist in 2018, participated at the Missouri Scholars Academy in 2016 and was a Coca-Cola Scholar semifinalist in 2017. Akila will be graduating from Central High School with a 3.9 grade point average  and an ACT Score of 35. Akila will be attending Washington University.

Grace has volunteered with various organizations through-out her high school years: Convoy of Hope, Special Olympics, Senior Citizens Banquet, Community Blood Drive, and the Summer Soccer Kids’ camp to name a few. In addition, Grace was the Student Council Class President for 3 years, played Varsity Tennis for 4 years, Varsity Soccer for 2 years and was a member of the Concert Choir. She has been very involved in Future Business Leaders of America placing at national, state, and local competitions. Grace will be graduating from Aurora High School with a 3.9 grade point average and an ACT Score of 32. Grace will be attending Loyola University.

“The recipients of the Mary Riley Wolfe Memorial Scholarship are amazing young women and the Junior League of Springfield is honored to help develop the potential of women by providing this scholarship opportunity,” said Mary Kromrey, President of JLS. “We are so proud that our organization has the opportunity to support these women in their educational endeavors.”