Plano Profile February 2010 : Page 22
panorama AROUND TOWN their country. He understands the next front in Afghanistan will be equally important and challeng- ing in the coming year. — CINDY BOYKIN Rotary in motion… Plano West Senior High School alumna and current University of South Carolina student Marin Mueller has been awarded a Rotary International Ambassadorial Academic Year Scholarship for 2010–11. Mueller, who will graduate in 2012 from South Carolina Honors College, is pursuing a double major in marketing and economics at the Darla Moore School of Business. She will use her scholarship to study in South Africa. Vice president of the university’s Honors Council, more photos on planoprofile.com Sons of the American Revolution state president Tom Lawrence presents Capt. John “Jay” Brooks Bradley III with the prestigiousWar Service Medal. Profi le photo/Cindy Boykin Saluting one of their own… Capt. John “Jay” Brooks Bradley III was awarded the War Service Medal by the Sons of the American Revolution Plano Chapter for his wartime service. SAR’s Texas Society president, Tom Lawrence, arrived from Houston to present the prestigious award to Capt. Bradley and to extend thanks on behalf of a grateful nation. Capt. Bradley, a Plano East High School graduate, Bronze Star and Army Commendation Medal awardee, and current SAR member, has been deployed four times. He is currently stationed in Fort Hood and is awaiting a new assignment this summer. In 2003, he served in Fallujah, Iraq; supported Katrina Relief in New Orleans; spent 2007 in West Baghdad; and served in Mosul, Iraq, throughout 2009. While serving in Iraq, fellow SAR members in Plano offered to send him items to help lighten his burden. But, as fellow member Dan Reed explained, “He didn’t ask for anything for himself. He asked that we send soccer balls and school supplies for the Iraqi children.” Capt. Bradley said he wanted to provide these things to the children for two reasons. One, “they are innocent,” he said compas- sionately. “They don’t deserve what they are going through.” And secondly, “I want them to understand that people in America care about them. I want the legacy we leave in Iraq to be a positive one— especially with the children. The thoughts they have of us 20 years down the road will hopefully be positive.” Capt. Bradley said he is very pleased with the progress made in Iraq, as the Iraqi army is taking charge and making strides to secure 22 PLANO PROFILE FEBRUARY 2010 Mueller is the active district officer for Omega Phi Alpha service sorority, co-president of the Roosevelt Institute, and a member of Phi Alpha Delta, the pre- law society. She was sponsored by the Columbia Rotary Club. Rotary is the world’s largest privately funded international scholarship program. Academic-year scholarships, valued at $25,000, provide nine months of study abroad for students studying dis- ciplines that address humanitarian needs. To learn more about national fellowships and competitions and view a complete list of the university’s Rotary scholars, visit sc.edu/ofsp. PlanoWest Senior High alumna Marin Mueller was recently awarded a Rotary International Ambassadorial Academic Year Scholarship. Photo/Rotary International
Around Town
Saluting one of their own… Capt. John “Jay” Brooks Bradley III was awarded the War Service Medal by the Sons of the American Revolution Plano Chapter for his wartime service. SAR’s Texas Society president, Tom Lawrence, arrived from Houston to present the prestigious award to Capt. Bradley and to extend thanks on behalf of a grateful nation.
Capt. Bradley, a Plano East High School graduate, Bronze Star and Army Commendation Medal awardee, and current SAR member, has been deployed four times. He is currently stationed in Fort Hood and is awaiting a new assignment this summer. In 2003, he served in Fallujah, Iraq; supported Katrina Relief in New Orleans; spent 2007 in West Baghdad; and served in Mosul, Iraq, throughout 2009.
While serving in Iraq, fellow SAR members in Plano offered to send him items to help lighten his burden. But, as fellow member Dan Reed explained, “He didn’t ask for anything for himself. He asked that we send soccer balls and school supplies for the Iraqi children.”
Capt. Bradley said he wanted to provide these things to the children for two reasons. One, “they are innocent,” he said compassionately. “They don’t deserve what they are going through.” And secondly, “I want them to understand that people in America care about them. I want the legacy we leave in Iraq to be a positive one— especially with the children. The thoughts they have of us 20 years down the road will hopefully be positive.”
Capt. Bradley said he is very pleased with the progress made in Iraq, as the Iraqi army is taking charge and making strides to secure their country. He understands the next front in Afghanistan will be equally important and challenging in the coming year.
— CINDY BOYKIN
Rotary in motion…
Plano West Senior High School alumna and current University of South Carolina student Marin Mueller has been awarded a Rotary International Ambassadorial Academic Year Scholarship for 2010–11.
Mueller, who will graduate in 2012 from South Carolina Honors College, is pursuing a double major in marketing and economics at the Darla Moore School of Business. She will use her scholarship to study in South Africa.
Vice president of the university’s Honors Council, Mueller is the active district officer for Omega Phi Alpha service sorority, co-president of the Roosevelt Institute, and a member of Phi Alpha Delta, the prelaw society. She was sponsored by the Columbia Rotary Club.
Rotary is the world’s largest privately funded international scholarship program. Academic-year scholarships, valued at $25,000, provide nine months of study abroad for students studying disciplines that address humanitarian needs. To learn more about national fellowships and competitions and view a complete list of the university’s Rotary scholars, visit sc.edu/ofsp.
For the love of Children’s…
Children’s Medical Center at Legacy dedicated their education and conference center to the Speese family in honor of their generous support.
Carolyn and Mark Speese have played a key role at Children’s Medical Center at Legacy since its inception with more than $1 million in charitable support. In recognition of their commitment, the Speese Education and Conference Center at Children’s Medical Center at Legacy was dedicated in their honor on December 16.
The couple initially supported the campaign to fund construction of the new Children’s campus in Plano, and also helped establish and fund the Legacy REACH (Referral and Evaluation of At Risk Children) Clinic, a cause that has long been near and dear to their hearts.
“We want to positively impact the lives of children victimized by abuse in Collin County,” said Carolyn Speese. “The REACH program will be a huge asset to our community, and we are thrilled to be a part of its establishment at Children’s Medical Center at Legacy.”
The Children’s REACH program is designed to care exclusively for suspected victims of child abuse and neglect and the complex social issues surrounding the abused.
“We are grateful for the generous contributions made by Carolyn and Mark Speese, and we are proud to name the Legacy education and conference center in their honor,” said Pete Kline, president of the Children’s Medical Center Foundation.
The REACH Clinic provides the following services: outpatient medical evaluations for child abuse diagnosis, prevention and treatment; inpatient and emergency room consultations in cases of suspected child abuse; services for child abuse diagnosis, prevention and treatment; networking with a variety of state and local agencies; and social services, translation and child life support.
They are also involved in several Collin County-area organizations, including the Collin County Children’s Advocacy center. Carolyn currently serves as the 2010 gala chair, while Mark is the president of the Collin County Children’s Advocacy Center’s board of directors. Mark is also the Chairman and CEO of Rent-A-Center, Inc., a position he has held since 2001.
For more information about Children’s Medical Center or to make a gift, visit childrens.com/giving.
Plano Realtor elected president…
Last month, Alex Johnson, President and CEO, KW Commercial/Laurex Realty Advisors, was elected 2010 president of the North Texas CCIM Chapter of the CCIM Institute, the governing body of the largest commercial real estate association in the world and an affiliate of the National Association of REALTORS®.
Johnson specializes in retail and office investments, leasing, and tenant representation. He has leadership experience at the national, state and local level with organizations such as the CCIM Institute, KW Commercial, Texas Association of Realtors, and North Texas Commercial Association of Realtors.
Johnson has also graduated from leadership programs with Leadership Plano, Leadership Dallas, the Greater Dallas Association of Realtors Leadership program, and the CCIM Leadership Academy.
An active member of the community, Johnson has held board positions with numerous nonprofits, charities and city boards, commissions and task forces. He has been honored by the CCIM Institute as a 2008 Rising Star and the 2007 Award of Excellence, and he was honored by the Dallas Business Journal as a Top Minority Business Owner and Rotary International as a Paul Harris Fellow.
Habitat builds 50th home
With the temperature hovering in the mid-20s, South Collin County Habitat for Humanity celebrated the construction of their 50th home in Plano’s Douglass Community on January 9. Volunteers, city leaders, and members of the community heard from Habitat board members, who recounted the program’s success since beginning in Plano in 1998.
CCAR names new officers
The Collin County Association of Realtors met in December to install new officers including longtime Plano real estate broker Olin Jaye, president; Mal Smith, president-elect; and Leslie Rouda Smith, sectretary/treasurer. In addition, the group heard from guest speaker Attorney General Greg Abbott and welcomed other special guests, including representatives of the Texas Association of Realtors and Region 7 members of the Texas Real Estate Political Action Committee. The luncheon also served to support the Collin County Children’s Advocacy Center Rainbow Room with donations from the crowd of some 400 real estate professionals and their guests.
Publication List
