SPARTA - The Sparta Woman’s Club awarded five scholarships to graduates at the end of the last academic year. Edwina Kirkowski , club education chair, presented two of the scholarships at the Sparta High School awards ceremony in June. Sparta graduate Rebecca Jin was a member of the Future Business Leaders of America and president and first-place winner at the group’s state competitive events. She also attended the N.J. Governor’s School of International Studies in July 2004. She played piano at Carnegie Hall in June 2003.She has been accepted to New York University. At Ithaca, Karyn Leibrecht of Sparta High will continue her interests in cheerleading, softball and mentoring young children through coaching, as well as joining some of the many clubs offered at the college. She is enrolled in the five-year master’s program in physical therapy, and looks forward to volunteering to help young children overcome their disabilities through therapy. Pope John recipient Laura Maurer will be attending Washington and Lee University. In Sparta, she was named to New Jersey's First Team All-State for volleyball during her senior year. She was also invited by Temple University’s volleyball coach to travel to China last summer with 21 other U.S. players. While there, she trained and played with Chinese college and national players. Laura spent many hours volunteering with both Project Self-Sufficiency and Room for One More Animal Shelter. Also from Pope John, graduate Kylie Vozza was the captain of the cheerleading squad and a role model for the younger members of the squad, as well as being active in her church and community. She was proud to be a member of Stand Tall, taking a position against drugs. She was accepted to the Laboratory Institute of Merchandising. Sarah Rae Emlet, a client at Project Self-Sufficiency, was awarded a scholarship to continue her studies at Sussex County Community College. The art department of the Sparta Woman’s Club also awarded two scholarships. Doris Schwint, chair, presented checks to Christopher Beck and Daniel Pytell at the Sussex County Technical School in a senior awards ceremony held at the school in June. The club considers the awards given to students who have both a desire and drive to further their education as a means of giving back to the community and to invest in the future. Education is important not only to the local organization, but also to the General Federation of Women’s Clubs and the N.J. State Federation of Women’s Clubs, both of which the Sparta club is affiliated with. The Sparta Woman’s Club is open to all women in Sparta who are interested in civic-minded and community-centered activities. For information, call 973-729-5812.