Four area high school seniors were given scholarships totaling $6,500 at four individual award ceremonies spaced 15 minutes apart at the Viking Lake facility.

Each of the ceremonies adhered to the state guidelines of social distancing, wearing of masks and other preventive measures.

Kylie Schnars of Panama High School and Jack Brinkley of Southwestern High School each received $1,750 Viking Grand Lodge scholarships and a certificate recognizing their achievement. Ingjald chief Betsy Lynch, greeted the scholars and those present and introduced members the Viking Grand Lodge.

Mindy Worden, IOV grand chief, was introduced and offered her congratulations to those being honored. Grand past chief and scholarship chairman, Bill Peterson, presented the awards to IOV recipients Kylie and Jack. Past Ingjald chief and current vice chief Juanita “Toots” Porter presented the local Ingjald Lodge scholarships of $1,500 each to Bryce Baglia of Falconer High School and Kyle Borrello of Hamburg High School.

All four scholarship recipients were also presented with blue and yellow flower corsages.

All present were treated to punch and special blue and yellow decorated cupcakes with words of congratulations and a small Swedish flag on them. The refreshments were hosted by the Past Chiefs Club and the Viking House Committee.

Junior Viking Maddie Johnson served as photographer for all the ceremonies taking individual and group pictures. Copies of the pictures will be mailed to each scholarship recipient.

Past chief Al Johnson told at the completion of each awarding ceremony that since 1964 when the Viking scholarship program began a total of 326 IOV and local Ingjald Lodge scholarships have been given out totaling $231,000. He further stated that the Vikings, nationally and locally, are pleased to help and encourage young adults become all they are capable of as they begin the next chapter in their lives.