Saturday, September 7, 2024
AZLE — Six Azle High School graduates and one teacher were recognized by Azle Masonic Lodge #601the evening of June 27. The students were each awarded a $1,200 scholarship by the fraternal organization.
Graduate Kaylee Parrish was motivated to apply for the scholarship because of its religious foundations.
“I did a lot of research on a bunch of scholarships that I did and I saw kind of the foundation and background of the holy background of this place and I am a Christian and I thought it would be a really good scholarship for me to apply for and I wasn’t sure I was going to get it but I was really blessed to have received it … I have a really good Christian background. I worship God in every way.”
Parrish helped coach softball for the Fort Worth Lady Cats and plans to attend Hardin Simmons University where she will continue to play. She said the scholarship will help her continue this passion with her family’s help.
“My parents are trying really hard to pay for my college as much as they can to keep me out of debt, so it’s going to help a lot. I’m really grateful for it … I really just want to thank my parents and my family. I have six people here with me tonight and it just shows how much support I have throughout my family. I want to thank my coaches (and) my teachers for helping me get good enough grades to be able to even apply for the scholarships I wanted.”
Allison Wright has been aware of Freemasonry for most of her life and said this scholarship is just one of the many ways the Freemasons have supported her.
“I’m a member of the peer-support program at Scottish Rite Hospital for Children and that’s a very mason-led hospital. I would always see masons when I was there, and they did a lot for the hospital.”
As a child, Wright said she suffered from juvenile idiopathic scoliosis. Since the eighth grade she has spoken with children going through the same surgeries she did to help comfort and inform them. Wight said the fact that the masons helped facilitate these experiences through their donations and support is what inspired her to apply for the scholarship. Wright said she plans on double majoring in marketing and finance. In high school she participated in the National Honor Society and AP Ambassadors.
“It means a lot to me because it’s going to help me continue my education,” Wright said. “I really want to continue my education, get a good job and a good degree and this scholarship will help me do that … “I think (the masons are) an amazing organization and I think they do a lot for people and I’m very grateful for the scholarship, I’m beyond grateful.”
Annahi Colmenero said she applied for as many scholarships as she could but did not know much about Freemasonry until she received the scholarship.
“I’ve heard of them every once in awhile and I’ve seen them in parades and stuff, but I didn’t know much about them,” Colmenero said. “The money should help a lot.”
Colmenero hopes to save money by first knocking out some core classes and electives at Tarrant County College before attending a larger university where she hopes to double major in finance and business management. At AHS, Colmenero was involved with cross country, soccer, band, Interact Club, AP Ambassadors, student council, NHS and was student body vice president. Colmenero moved to Azle two years ago and her parents own Pop Pop Burgers in Springtown.
Students Miranda Markle and Angel Brown also were awarded the scholarship along with Shree Patel who was not present for the ceremony. Worshipful Grand Master Kenny Patrick announced that Silver Creek Elementary kindergarten teacher Kacie Krneta won the lodge’s Mirabeau B. Lamar Award along with $500 cash. Krneta could not attend the meeting and was on a “long-needed vacation,” Patrick said.
