2023 RAGE Scholarship Award for Excellence in Academic Achievement and Service to the Community
Each year, Pleasanton RAGE Girls Soccer Club recognizes and rewards scholar-athletes who demonstrate RAGE excellence in academic achievement and service to the community. At least two $2,000.00 scholarships for college are awarded to high school seniors who plan to attend a 4-year or 2-year college, or a vocational or art school, and have a cumulative GPA of 3.8 or higher. Applicants are considered based on the following criteria: academic achievement; commitment to volunteerism/service; and the number of years playing for RAGE. In addition, an essay is submitted defining one of the RAGE core values (Respect, Attitude, Greatness, Expectations) and explaining how the value is learned while playing soccer and serving the community.
Congratulations to this year’s recipients!
Ciara Stapleton
Ciara has played soccer for Pleasanton RAGE for 14 years, most currently as a member of the Competitive Program on the 2005 Select team.
A senior at Amador Valley High School, Ciara has a GPA of 4.34 and is currently undecided as to where she will attend college, possibly UT Austin or UCLA. She plans on majoring in Neuroscience or Psychobiology.
To date, Ciara’s academic honors and accomplishments include AP Scholar with Distinction; National Merit Commended Scholar; 3-year Honor Roll distinction in middle school; Trombone Player: Concert Band, Wind Ensemble Band, & Amador Valley Marching Band; American Legion Auxiliary State Finalist; Team Captain, Pleasanton RAGE.
Equally important and inspiring is Ciara’s list of community service, specifically her involvement in the following: Math Olympiad, as a Coach held meetings, lead specialized math lessons, and administered contests while creating a fun, engaging environment for 7 elementary school students; Kids Against Hunger, as a volunteer packing food for communities in need, both locally and overseas; PUSD, as an Academic Tutor helping 4th graders struggling with math; Special Olympics; Campana Jazz Festival.
Ciara chose the RAGE core value “Attitude” for her essay topic. She says that “my winning attitude is perseverance through obstacles… I’ve played for RAGE longer than any other commitment in my life, and it has been the most formative facet of my youth. I will miss the game and my teammates…, but will forever carry my winning attitude through the trials of adult life.”
Macy Lehrer
Macy has played soccer for Pleasanton RAGE for 13 years, most currently as a member of the Competitive Program on the 2005 Elite Clubs National League (ECNL) team.
A senior at Carondelet High School, Macy has a 4.43 GPA and has committed to playing college soccer at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) where she plans on majoring in Economics, Data Science, and Computer Science.
To date, Macy’s academic honors and accomplishments include National Merit Finalist; AP Scholar with Distinction; Hugh O’Brien Youth Leader; Latin Student Award (2021, 2022); Green Dot Leader; Member: National Honors Society & California Scholarship Federation.
Rounding out Macy’s excellence in academics and honors is her community volunteerism, specifically her service to the following: Senior Sidekicks, a non-profit organization that she co-founded and for which she serves as Technical Advisor providing support to senior citizens with pets who need help with vet bills, medicine, grooming, and food; Tiny House Engineer helping build houses for seasonal farm workers in Brentwood; Peer Counselor as a mentor for the Freshman group; Co-Founder & Co-President of Carondelet Speech & Debate, an award-winning Club that supports younger members find confidence while competing in public speaking.
Macy chose the RAGE core value “Greatness” for her essay topic. She says that “The confidence I’ve found in my talents through soccer has allowed me to become the person strong enough to manage a program like [Senior Sidekicks]. I thank soccer for the lessons it has taught me… it’s made a tougher, smarter person who is constantly striving for greatness in every aspect of… life.”
