The Ripon Rotary Club will be unleashing 1,000 rubber ducks into a canal on Monday, May 3.

The whereabouts are unknown but proceeds for the Duck Race will go towards trade school scholarships for this year’s graduating high school seniors.

All told, four students from Ripon High’s Class of 2021 will be eligible to receive $1,000 scholarship each compliments of Rotary to pursue vocational schooling – examples include heating & air conditioning, plumbing, electrical, etc.

According to co-President John Mangelos – he shares the top post with Harrison Gibbs – the small rubber ducks will be numbered, both top and bottom, from one to 1,000 in the event of a photo finish. Rotary got the OK from South San Joaquin Irrigation District General Manager Peter Rietkerk, who is also a supporter for students taking the trade school route, for use of the waterway.

The Ripon Consolidated Fire District will also help in the dropping of the rubber ducks into the canal at 1 p.m. The race is expected to cover about half mile with the local firefighters doing videotaping via use of a drone.

Rotary also thanked J & J Printing for supporting the event.

Those participating can win one of seven prizes – a case of wine from McManis Family Vineyards, a 16-by-20 family portrait, Ripon Jewelers gift basket, a rattlesnake hat band, $300 gift certificate to the Barnwood Arms, a foursome to play golf at Spring Creek Country Club, and a Blue Diamond gift basket courtesy of Faye and Harrison Gibbs.

The Duck Race will be shown later that day at Pizza Plus, 110 W. Main St. All are invited.

Cost of the ducks is four for $20 or $5 each.

For more information, call Mangelos at 209.204.3462.