TOLEDO—Three graduating high school seniors were honored for their service and leadership as recipients of the Schaefer Scholarship from the Catholic Diocese of Toledo Employee Benefit Fund.

Joseph Schafer, pictured with his parents, Pete and Jean Schafer, and Bishop Leonard P. Blair, received a $2000 Schaefer Scholarship. (Chronicle photo by Laurie Stevens Bertke)

Joseph Schafer, a graduate of Norwalk St. Paul, received a $2,000 scholarship and Carly Smith, a graduate of Sandusky St. Mary Central Catholic High School, and Samantha Jordan Riccio, a graduate of Toledo Notre Dame Academy, each received a $500 scholarship.

Bishop Leonard P. Blair presented the awards to the students May 20 at the Catholic Center in Toledo.

Established in memory of Edward Schaefer, who served on the board of trustees of the Diocese of Toledo’s Lay Retirement Plan for 16 years, the Schaefer Scholarship is awarded to a graduating senior who has a parent participating in the Lay Retirement Plan.

The award honors students for service to church and community as well as leadership. It was Mr. Schaefer’s wish that the award go to a student who worked selflessly and achieved their potential but was not the outstanding student who receives numerous awards and scholarships.

Joseph Schafer has been an altar server, lector and Eucharistic minister at Bellevue Immaculate Conception. He is also a CYO volunteer, does church babysitting, serves on the parish grounds crew and committee and was a Teens Encounter Christ leader.

He has shown leadership at school as a varsity football team captain, varsity swim team captain, student ambassador, Key Club member, youth camp instructor for St. Paul football, sophomore class vice president and junior class president. He has also served as a National Honor Society president, Buckeye Boys State representative, retreat team leader and varsity girls basketball announcer.

Joseph has been involved in a number of community efforts such as the Huron County Heart Walk, the Walk for Diabetes, the Cancer Walk, Make a Difference Day, Youth Elect Service project, Teen Leadership Corps and community sponsored Thanksgiving dinner.

Mr. Schafer has been accepted at John Carroll University.

His mother, Jean, is employed as a bookkeeper at Immaculate Conception.

Carly Smith, pictured with her mother, Cindy, and Bishop Leonard P. Blair, received a $500 Schaefer Scholarship. (Chronicle photo by Laurie Stevens Bertke)

Carly Smith, a member of Sandusky SS. Peter & Paul, has been an altar server, participated in the Steubenville Retreat, senior KAIROS retreat, annual class retreats and she volunteered at the Oktoberfest fundraiser for local parishes.

Her school and community activities include varsity cheerleading, Key Club, International Club, National Honor Society, National Art Honors Society, Honor Roll, student council vice president and Teen Leadership Corps.

Carly participated in the Rev3 Triathlon, and she volunteers at the Erie County Care Facility, Sandusky Library, Big Brother Big Sister, the Humane Society, Firelands Regional Medical Center, Providence Care Center and Commons of Providence. She is also an office aide, Youth Elect Service volunteer, Relay for Life volunteer and March for Dimes participant.

She plans to attend The Ohio State University.

Her mother, Cindy, is a kindergarten teacher at Sandusky Central Catholic School.

Samantha Jordan Riccio, pictured with her mother, Penny, and Bishop Leonard P. Blair, received a $500 Schaefer Scholarship. (Chronicle photo by Laurie Stevens Bertke)

Samantha Jordan Riccio is a Eucharistic minister at school Masses and has volunteered as a face painter at her parish festival. Her community activities include traveling to Appalachia to organize a Christmas celebration, volunteering to help clean up after a tornado hit the area last June, volunteering with the Metroparks and donating 39 inches of her hair to an organization that makes wigs for cancer patients.

A National Merit Finalist, Samantha was on the honor roll for four years and was recognized by the National Society of High School Scholars. She was a district qualifier in the Science Olympian competition, received a varsity letter and was captain of the fall and spring crew team. She also served as a school diplomat and as treasurer of student council.

Her mother, Penny, teaches at Sylvania St. Joseph.

Samantha plans to attend Clemson University.