We’re proud to announce that our $1,000 spring 2019 scholarship has been awarded to Jaya Manjunath, an outstanding student at St. Bonaventure University in St. Bonaventure, New York. This scholarship, offered to students who demonstrate their commitment to community service, recognizes Ms. Manjunath’s exceptional work in senior care. In her winning essay, Ms. Manjunath describes her seven-year record of volunteering at retirement and long-term care homes in the U.S. and Canada. During this work, she says, she became aware of “seniors’ progressive disengagement from the local community.” This inspired her to found the New York State 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization Seniors With Skills, an “organization determined to empower seniors and break down age-related stigma.” Five years later, there are more than 80 Seniors With Skills volunteers in North America who have impacted hundreds of seniors in more than 30 retirement residences. Last summer, Ms. Manjunath visited 10 retirement homes across the Greater Toronto area and Western New York to encourage seniors to volunteer in their local communities. Ms. Manjunath excels academically as well. She is currently enrolled in a BS/MD program with St. Bonaventure University and The George Washington University School of Medicine and has conducted research at Toronto General Hospital. Sean Ryan, Ph.D., of the St. Bonaventure Department of Biology writes that “Jaya is an excellent student and person, and she is very deserving of such an award.” According to Kate Fish of the Chartwell Lansing Retirement Residence in Toronto, “Jaya embodies the Chartwell values of respect and works to adapt to those residents she is supporting. She is valuable to our home, our residents and our greater community.” Congratulations, Ms. Manjunath, from all of us at Turner Pest Control!