Short Pump Ruritans honor students, citizens

Sixty members and guests of the Short Pump Ruritan Club gathered June 26 at Shady Grove United Methodist Church for the club's annual awards picnic, which honored community leaders, public safety representatives and several recent Henrico high school graduates.

Seven graduates received $1,000 scholarships this year – the most the club has ever awarded. Reece Appel, Devin Esleck and Ryan Potter of Godwin H.S. will attend University of Texas at Austin, James Madison University and High Point University, respectively.  Christina McLaghlan, Sara Tran and Taylor Waddy of Tucker H.S. will attend Florida A & M University, James Madison University and Christopher Newport University, and Cameron Mitten of Glen Allen H.S. will attend Virginia Tech.

Receiving the club's three annual awards for community service were Officer Andrew C. Butler (Police Officer of the Year), Lt. Nathan Beahm (Fire Fighter of the Year) and Jonathan Cotten (Businessperson of the Year). Cotten is the president and owner of Easy Step Companies, which operates The Good Feet Store in Short Pump.

Chartered in 1964, the Short Pump Ruritan Club has spent more than 60 years addressing the needs of the Short Pump community and serving the community through fundraising activities and social events.

Fundraisers include an annual golf tournament and a fall crafts show, which have raised thousands of dollars in donations for such non-profits as Fisher House (which received a $5,000 check at the picnic – pictured), the Henrico Christmas Mother, Tuckahoe Rescue Squad, Short Pump M.S. PTA, American Heart Association, Habit for Humanity, Hunters for the Hungry, Shady Grove UMC and the food bank.

Membership is open to men, women and couples who live in the Short Pump area. For details about coming meetings, contact Vice President Bruce Brooks at Bruce_gina.brooks@verizon.net.