Molotsky’s memory lives on in winners

By Harriet P. Gross

White Rock Rotary’s Molotsky Scholarship winners for 2018 are preparing for a variety of experiences in higher education at a half-dozen different venues. The six awardees, all graduates of Lake Highlands High School, appeared at a recent club meeting to tell of their plans.

Kateryn Gonzalez will enter the nursing school at Texas Woman’s University. Jessica Hamm will study architecture at Texas A&M; another architecture major, Jacob Seddelmeyer, will attend the University of Arkansas. Bennett College in North Carolina is the humanities choice of Imani Johnson. Alfred Mejia chose UT-Dallas for software engineering, while Reggie Mensah will major in computer science at the University of North Texas.

White Rock Rotary established these annual awards years ago to honor Leonard Molotsky, a club member who served for more than a decade as deputy superintendent in the Richardson Independent School District. Moving here from Shawnee-Mission, KS with then newly hired Superintendent Arzell Ball, Molotsky introduced many challenging educational programs during his tenure, including Enterprise City, Odyssey of the Mind and the Academic Decathlon.

The local club began offering these scholarships while Molotsky was still a RISD educator and active White Rock Rotarian. However, he retired several years after they were first given and passed away soon after of cancer. The awards program has continued ever since in his memory.

Those wishing additional information about the Molotsky Scholarships may contact Roger Pryor at [email protected]. Men and women interested in local Rotary membership are invited to visit the club any Friday at noon in JJ’s Café, 10233 Northwest Highway, for a one-hour meeting that includes lunch and a program. Just walk into the restaurant and look for the Rotary banner.