Applications for the first ever Frederick Lefever Memorial Scholarships are being accepted by the Kiwanis Club of Amador County.

There are three $2,000 scholarships available this year. Awarded scholarship funds will be sent directly to recipients' institution financial aid office.

Forms may be obtained from appropriate high school faculty staff or by contacting local Amador Kiwanis Club President, Terry Myers, at 295-6492 or via e-mail at terry@volcano.net.

The applications must be postmarked or received no later than Wednesday, April 29. Late applications will not be considered.

Mail completed applications to: Amador County Kiwanis Club, P.O. Box 152, Jackson, 95642.

Requirements are:

- Must be graduating in 2009 with a 3.5 grade point average or higher from a high school in Amador County.

- Must already be accepted by a two- or four-year undergraduate program or technical institution for the upcoming fall semester.

- Enrollment must be a minimum of 12 units, of which eight must be on campus classes.

- Attend an interview with the Amador County Kiwanis Club Scholarship Committee.

Eligible applicants will be notified of their application's acceptance along with the date, time and location of their interview which will be scheduled during the month of May.

The Amador County Kiwanis Frederick Lefever Memorial Scholarships are in honor of the departed Kiwanian, husband, father, friend and humanitarian.

Lefever passed away in January 2009 in Jackson at the age of 96. He officially joined the Kiwanis Club of Amador County in January 1975 and remained a member until his death. He was instrumental in organizing the Kiwanis Argonaut High School Key Club, the club's scholarship program and the ongoing See's candy fund-raising project.

In 1945, following his professional career as a chemist, Lefever moved to Jackson and began teaching math and science at Jackson High School. He also was the school's vice principal, counselor, JV football coach, and started the track and field program at the high school. During summer vacations, Lefever would lifeguard at the Jackson Community Pool, drive an ambulance, and was counselor at the Boy Scout Camp at Bear River. He retired from teaching in 1972.

He continued to be an active contributor to his community as a volunteer at the senior center and an active participant in the county's amateur radio club, which involved rescue activities.

As he approached the age of 90, his health began to limit his abilities, but did not keep him from being the primary caretaker of his wife of 67 years, Jean Cassell Lefever, who preceded him in death in 2005. Nor did it keep him from attending weekly Kiwanis club meetings even when he could no longer drive or walk steadily.