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Day Ketterer presents scholarship to North Canton senior
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Published: May 16, 2016
CANTON––The 2016 Day Ketterer Business Scholarship has been awarded to Daniel Rojek in recognition of his academic achievement and insightful essay on the role of private business in promoting democracy. The scholarship is a one-time award in the amount of $2,000, paid directly to the college of the recipient’s choice.
Day Ketterer presented its fifth annual scholarship to Rojek at the Canton Regional Chamber of Commerce Business Excellence Awards ceremony and dinner on May 3 at The Conference Center, Kent State University Stark.
Rojek, a senior at North Canton Hoover High School, is the son of Lorraine and Gene Lockhart and Mark Rojek of North Canton, Ohio. Rojek was chosen for the scholarship based on his winning essay, “From Past to Present and Future Prosperity: The Growth of Private Business and Democracy.”
Rojek’s essay was written in response to the prompt “The Historical Role of Private Business in Promoting Democracy Throughout the World.” Scholarship essay submissions were open to Stark County high school seniors, as well as students enrolled at a Stark County university or college.
In his essay, Rojek points out that the United States’ economy during the Cold War served as inspiration to people around the world.
“In order to stop the spread of communism and preserve the construct of democracy, the US government tried various tactics of influence. Little did they know that their greatest asset was in fact private business!” he writes. “As the USSR failed to grow under communism and the United States had flourishing private business that contributed to an increased quality of life, slowly over time the people’s minds began to change.”
Rojek will attend the Carl H. Lindner College of Business at the University of Cincinnati, majoring in economics and marketing. He has been accepted into the University’s Circle of Excellence Honors program and has received a Cincinnatus scholarship.
At Hoover High School, Rojek is a member of the marching, symphonic, pep and jazz bands. He also participates in choir and is a member of Hoover’s show choir, the Hi-Los, and its men’s ensemble, LoNotes. Rojek is the president of the Improv Club and is a two-time Speech and Debate state finalist, finishing 13th and 7th in the state over the last two years. He also has been inducted into the National Honor Society.
Rojek works with TomTod Ideas, a Stark County-based think tank that empowers middle school students to implement their ideas for improving the community.