The sixth annual Molly Youth Awards Banquet presented by Greater Nevada Credit Union celebrated the excellence of 40 Douglas County student-athletes at Genoa Lakes Golf Club on May 10.
Student-athletes were honored for their combined excellence in the areas of athletic participation, academic commitment and community service. The Molly Youth Awards are organized by the MEFIYI Foundation. MEFIYI stands for Me-for Incredible-Youth, Inc. and was started in 1997 by JoJo and Suzi Townsell.
The highlights of this year's banquet included the national anthem sung by our entire audience of 160 and a dance performance by Douglas High School seniors Kim Lowe and Megan Hellwinkel, who will be attending UNLV.
A tribute of each award winner was presented and developed by MEFIYI trustee Mike McLaughlin of RAMAC Industries. Douglas High School juniors Mia Townsell and Maddy Gilbert co-hosted the event. MEFIYI is proud to organize an event where our local student-athletes' talents, abilities, ambitions and how they serve our community are recognized.
This year's event awarded two $1,000 scholarships and three $500 college scholarships for outstanding senior student athletes. These scholarships were made possible by Greater Nevada Credit Union and Big George Ventures, LLC.
The $1,000 college scholarships were awarded to Jamie Lundergreen and Edgar Arceo. Lundergreen will be attending Boise St. University and Arceo will enroll at Oberlin College and play soccer. The three $500 scholarships were awarded to Jourdan Burke, Walker Higgins and Rebecca Trute who will all be attending UNR.
MEFIYI is honored that Greater Nevada Credit Union agreed to become title sponsor of this year's event for the fourth year.
The Molly Awards Banquet and 2010 MEFIYI programs are supported by grants from Big George Ventures, LLC., NFL Charities, The E.L. Cord Foundation, Robert R. Banks Foundation, Professional Athletes Foundation and Robert Z. Hawkins Foundation. MEFIYI also wants to thank The Record-Courier, Carson Valley Accounting, Genoa Lakes Golf Club, RAMAC Industries and Brewery Arts Center for their support.
Special thoughts are with former Douglas County School District Members, George and Josie Graham, who inspired MEFIYI to create this event. This event honors the memory of Douglas High School Student-athlete Molly Lahlum.
Molly Award honorees were:
Haley von Schottenstein, Douglas High School
Kaycee Battcher, Scarselli Elementary School
Rebecca Trute, Douglas High School
Gabriella Tracy, George Whittell High School
Connor Lyons, Carson Valley Middle School
Lindsey Adams, Pau Wa Lu Middle School
Jourdan Burke, Douglas High School
Jessica Vega, Douglas High School
Walker Higgins, Douglas High School
Jacob Wartgow, Carson Valley Middle School
Holly Brown, Gardnerville Elementary School
Sierra Stulac, Sierra Lutheran High School
Natalie Freitas, Douglas High School
Amelia Ritger, Douglas High School
Katrina Morgan, Douglas High School
Christine DuPuis, Douglas High School
Edgar Arceo, Douglas High School
Katie Dry, Douglas High School
Nicole Rowe, Gardnerville Elementary School
Kelsey Carlson, Pinon Hills Elementary School
Cesarina Ceglia, Douglas High School
Jace Hart, Minden Elementary School
Beau Battista, Douglas High School
Keely Latham, Douglas High School
Jonah O'Connor, Gardnerville Elementary School
Jacqueline Harper, Douglas High School
Lara Brown, Pau Wa Lu Middle School
Jamie Lundergreen, Douglas High School
Amanda Wartgow, Douglas High School
Jessa Gansberg, Carson Valley Middle School
Illiana Brown, Pau Wa Lu Middle School
C. J. Baumgartner, Douglas High School
Nicole Koko Terada, Pau Wa Lu Middle School
Jasmyn Peterson, Douglas High School
Bailey Gansberg, Gardnerville Elementary School
Lucas Peterson, Douglas High School
Luke Houghton, Gardnerville Elementary School
Haydn Brown, Gardnerville Elementary School
Kayleigh Carlson, Pinon Hills Elementary School
Mysta Townsell, Douglas High School
