Memories of Karl Roden
by Ellen Hildreth
from the Brægen August 1986

That crooked smile; the ever-present cigarette; and only Ballantine's scotch (he simply refused to drink any other brand); extraordinary pride in his three children (when the twin girls were born, he said, he was so nervous he popped a stick of Juicy Fruit gum in his mouth and lit it up!); a love of classical music and the ballet; great frustration that he wasn't a better teacher for his guitar students; stubborn; resistant to change; always ready for a good argument; a friend.

Karl J. Roden Memorial Scholarship

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The scholarship

Application forms:
- are available at many high school guidance offices in the ECOM region
- are available HERE online between September 15 and January 14
- or you may email to the address below for information about the application
Applications are accepted each year September 15 through January 14
- submit an essay
- essays are reviewed after January 15
- awards are made after National Mensa announces their awards in July
Awards are completely based on the applicants' essays, without regard to grades, academic program or financial need.
Applicants need not be Mensa members.
Applicants must be residents of one of the 14 counties covered by East Central Ohio Mensa.
Applicants must be meticulous in following the rules and requirements on the application form. Please follow instructions carefully, as every year fine essays are disqualified because of incomplete applications.

For details or more information email the ECOM scholarship chair.

Links to other scholarship information

Additional information on the web that may help in your search for financial aid for higher education:

Ohio Historical Society National History Day in Ohio project and award program
Ohio Board of Regents State Grants and Scholarships
Dated but relevant information (MS Word doc file) on grants and scholarships in Northeast Ohio area: click here
use Google or your favorite search engine for up-to-date infomation.
utilize your school counselors as a resource - they deal with scholarship search every year.

A little history...

Karl J. Roden was the first Treasurer of East Central Ohio Mensa and held in warm regard by many members. After his untimely death members wanted to honor his memory, and determined to put the existing annual scholarship award program in his name. That program, originated in 1981, is a cash award to a recipient selected from applicants who have submitted an essay for judging.

If not the first in Mensa, this was one of the first essay-based scholarship programs offered by a local group. It has also been among the largest scholarship awards made by Mensa local groups. The concept was picked up right away (or thought of concurrently) by Mensa Education & Research Foundation (MERF), which currently sponsors and administers a separate substantial program of scholarship awards across the United States and internationally.

Funding for the Scholarship

The Karl J. Roden Scholarship is awarded from funds raised by the annual ECOM Scholarship Auction, from other gifts and contributions, and earnings on previous contributions. The 29 ^th annual Karl Roden Memorial Scholarship Auction was held at the November 2008 Final Friday Fling at Lindsay's Amber Restaurant in Ellet.

There is an ongoing online Used Books Sale in support of the scholarship.

Past Karl J. Roden Scholarship award recipients

2008 - Stacie Kingseed of Galion OH $2,000 Roden award

2007 - Jonathan Losh of Medina OH $2,000 Roden award

Braegen January 2008 - (photo caption) Wil Huff with scholarship winner Jonathan Losh at 2007 Holiday Party.

2006 - Angela Miller of Kent OH $2,000 Roden award

2005 - Chelsea Moyseenko of Kent OH $2,000 Roden award
Caitlin Partridge regional $300 award

Akron Beacon Journal July 31, 2005 - Chelsea Moyseenko of Kent received the $2,000 Karl J. Roden Memorial Scholarship ...

2004 - Meredith Misner $2,000 Roden award
Terri Good regional $300 award

Brægen September 2004 - Chuck Scholl, our scholarship chairman, presented a check for two thousand dollars, the Roden Award, to ECOM member, Meredith Misner. She read the winning essay about her interest in clean water and studies in hydrology. She has surveyed aspects of the Cuyahoga River. Ewwwww! (It was a senior honors thesis.) One of her goals is to develop an understanding of fluvial mechanics. Better her than me. Just kidding. Terri Good, our regional $300 winner could not be with us, so Dale will mail her the certificate she earned. Chuck also presented Meredith with one of the remaining first time buttons on earth since it was the first Final Friday she had attended...

1991 through 2003 - need to reconstruct the history...

1990 - Reita Louis, Akron OH, $500 Roden award
Holly D. Collier, Uniontown OH, $200 Roden award

This was the first time two applicants were awarded funds.

1989 - Adam Aaron Ackerman, Hudson OH

1988 - Connie L. Totten-Oldham

1987 - Robert Shepherd

1986 - Paula Marie Tokar, Tallmadge OH

1985 - Jeanette Faeth, Plymouth OH

1984 - Rhonda Kay Oberly, East Canton OH

1983 - Theresa Morelli Akron OH

The first annual Karl J. Roden Memorial Scholarship award.

Past Scholarship Chair and Committee Members

John Schmid ?? to c. 1991
Jake Scholl c. 1991 to 2006
Elizabeth Wilson ?? to 2006
Wil E. Huff 2006-2008
Terry Neaville 2008