Meninak marks ‘favorite day of the year’
04/28/2009 by David Chapman Staff Writer When Meninak members received their program calendar of events earlier this year, many of them circled Monday. As a reminder during last week’s meeting, club President Bunky Johnson encouraged everyone in attendance to notify other members and guests to make it a point to come and help celebrate the day. They listened, as more than 100 Meninak members and guests attended the 12th Annual Meninak Youth Leadership Grant Awards Ceremony, which featured five area high school students each receiving $5,000 scholarships with funds raised and donated through various Meninak efforts. “No meeting represents what Meninak means more than the one today,” said Dr. Marcelle Lovett, during her invocation. While the yearlong theme for the civic organization’s 90th year focuses on noting club historic facts and remembering the past, Monday’s meeting was just the opposite said President Bunky Johnson. “Today, we’re about the future,” said Johnson, “even though we are celebrating much of our past.” That future came in the form of the 2009 award winners, as each graduate of the Youth Leadership Jacksonville class and scholarship recipient was on hand to give their thanks for being honored with a monetary award that will go toward their next step in life. “You don’t know how proud every Meninak (member) in this room is of you,” said President-elect Kent Lindsey. Bill Cousins, president of Character Counts in Jacksonville, spoke to the members and award recipients on the origins of the scholarship program, which is funded by organization dues and donations, the hard work and credentials of each student along with the difficulty that goes into selecting just five students. “I wish we had more money,” said Cousins, when talking about a common phrase heard during the student interview process. Larry Cobb, chair of the organization’s scholarship committee, agreed with Cousins about how difficult it is to select just five winners, calling all 19 applicants “outstanding students.” “This (the scholarship recipients) is evidence that the future is in good hands,” said Cobb. The 2009 scholarship winners included: • Maya Asker, Douglas Anderson School of the Arts. “I’m honored to be one of the Meninak scholarship recipients,” said Asker during her speech, later adding: “I hope the scholarship will always be available to students in the future.” Asker will attend Belmont University in Nashville, Tenn. • Loren McLendon, Stanton College Preparatory School. “I’m very grateful to the (Meninak) Club,” said McLendon, while adding on her experience with Youth Leadership Jacksonville: “It molded me into a well rounded leader.” McLendon will attend Florida A&M University in Tallahassee. • Zack Mezera, Orange Park High School. “In a time when not many people are giving, Meninak is,” said Mezera, who will attend Brown University. • Rachel Quinones, Bishop John J. Snyder High School. “It’s going to help me so much you have no idea,” said Quinones, during her speech, before adding about her Youth Leadership Jacksonville time: “I wouldn’t replace the experience for anything.” Quinones will attend the College of William & Mary in Williamsburg, Va. • Ashley Shaffer, Keystone Heights Senior High School. “Thank you for all of the generosity,” said Shaffer, who announced she’d be attending the University of Florida (much to the delight of some in the audience) to study medicine. dchapman@baileypub.com 356-2466
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