By Nancy Young
Enquirer contributor

LIBERTY TWP. - Liberty Township residents Carl and Denise Renneker created a fund in honor of their daughter Kristin, who was a Lakota High School senior when she was killed in a car accident 11 years ago.

Each year, the Rennekers award scholarships worth $2,000 each to one graduating female athlete from Lakota East High School and one from Lakota West.

"We wanted to do something with donations made in Kristin's memory and find a way to keep her college dreams alive," Denise Renneker says. "Kristin worked very hard on her grades and athletics - it didn't come easily to her - so each year her scholarship goes to girls who are involved in athletics, achieve academic excellence, and are active in school, community or church. When recipients write letters of thanks to us, we know that they are carrying on Kristin's dreams."

That scholarship is among seven awards available to students from West Chester or Liberty townships, carrying up to $2,000 for college expenses. They are administered by the Community Foundation of West Chester/Liberty.

"Our donors have created scholarship funds for everything from chemistry majors, to female athletes, to trade school students, to history and government majors, to needs-based parameters and more," says Katie Braswell, executive director of the foundation.

"I feel very fortunate to have received a scholarship from the Community Foundation and am grateful for it. It makes a real difference for me," says Angel Poynter of West Chester, now at Ohio State University.

The Community Foundation awards its own scholarships, and manages additional scholarship funds whose guidelines have been established by donor families.

For more information on scholarships, call 874-5450 or visit www.wclfoundation.com.