Garden Club Scholars

Lakewood Garden Club Honors Outstanding Scholars! LAKEWOOD GARDEN CLUB HONORS OUTSTANDING SCHOLARS!

The Lakewood Garden Club resumed its in-person meetings in May and honored two outstanding students from Lee’s Summit North High School. As always, choosing among so many talented and deserving applicants was a challenge. This year’s winners, Madison Goff and Julia Welsh will each receive $500 scholarships to attend their colleges of choice in September.

Madison Goff may be familiar to Lakewood residents because she’s been the head lifeguard at the main pool. There was a dynamism about her application that portrayed a determined and focused student intent on improving the quality of healthcare. While still in high school Madison earned dual credits from Longview Community College and the University of Missouri in KC. Next fall she’ll be attending the University of Kansas where she’ll pursue the pharmaceutical sciences and health science management. Madison is a true scholar-athlete who not only swims, but also plays soccer and tennis. According to her teachers, Madison has a strong work-ethic, is passionate about her many interests and still both humble and kind. For all these reasons and more, the Scholarship Committee is proud to support Madison’s future goals.

Our second recipient, Julia Welsh, is just as distinguished. Julia’s application portrayed a future environmentalist, determined to make a difference. Her interest stemmed from a class trip to the James A. Reed Memorial Wildlife Area, here in Lee’s Summit. There she was introduced to the lake ecosystem and the various species that call it home. Next fall, Julia will pursue her dream of becoming a wildlife biologist and conservationist at Truman State University. Julia’s recommendations revealed not only an outstanding student but a Renaissance person, with broad cultural interests in the arts. The Choral Director at Lee’s Summit North, described her as having a beautiful alto voice and as an accomplished violist excelling in sight-reading and sight-singing. But, he saved his greatest praise, for her outstanding character and sweet spirit.

The Garden Club is proud to honor and support Madison and Julia as they pursue their dreams of improving healthcare and conserving and sustaining the environment. It seems only proper to mention that Janet Gerken, our beloved chairperson of the Scholarship Committee, passed recently. It was she who spent countless hours contacting the high schools and finding our applicants. She, along with her tech-savvy husband Eric, also streamlined our selection methods, ensuring that the most deserving students were recognized by the Garden Club. Our Committee, Edie Sledek, Kaye Vance and Carol McCavitt, want everyone to know how much she will be missed. Janet was very enthusiastic about both our winners. Without Janet, we might never have found Madison and Julia.