MMI’s Rhoda Davis-Blatt scholarship winners named

The Munroe-Meyer Institute recently announced the winners of the scholarship named for Rhoda Davis-Blatt, a longtime MMI employee who has since retired.

Aaron Kobza, a second-year physical therapy student at UNMC, and Kathryn Nedley, a freshmen studying occupational therapy at Creighton University, were honored at the MMI operating board meeting earlier this month.

“I know I want to work with children with disabilities for the rest of my life. It is a rare occurrence for me to come out of a day at Camp Munroe without a smile on my face.” Kathryn Nedley

The students both served as recreational technicians at Camp Munroe this past summer. To be eligible for the scholarship, technicians and volunteers are asked to submit essays to the board that tell of their camp experience and how it has affected their lives.

“Kathryn and Aaron attended the board meeting and read their essays, which touched the hearts of everyone,” said Merrilee Moshier-Miller, president elect of the MMI operating board.

In her essay, Nedley discussed how being a technician at Camp Munroe for the past five years has solidified her decision in regards to a career.

“I know I want to work with children with disabilities for the rest of my life,” she wrote. “It is a rare occurrence for me to come out of a day at Camp Munroe without a smile on my face.”

Kobza echoed Nedley’s sentiments. He wrote that when asked by family members if he ever became disheartened by his work with handicapped children, he told them it was just the opposite.

“I usually feel happier when I leave work because of the smiling faces that I have seen all day,” he wrote. “The participants at Munroe-Meyer have a surprisingly optimistic outlook on life. That optimism is contagious.”

He went on to write that because he feels so strongly about the mission of MMI, he recruited six of his classmates to work at Camp Munroe this summer.

“I usually feel happier when I leave work because of the smiling faces that I have seen all day. The participants at Munroe-Meyer have a surprisingly optimistic outlook on life. That optimism is contagious.” Aaron Kobza

“That was one of the things that stuck in my mind,” said Davis-Blatt, who selected the recipients after reading the essays. “I could’ve picked any of them, those two just stood out. They all deserve to win, but you can only pick two.”

Moshier-Miller agreed that the selection process is difficult.

“We’re honored to have wonderful applicants every year,” she said. “It’s very difficult for Mrs. Davis-Blatt to select from the heartfelt applications.”

In the end, Davis-Blatt, who worked as an administrative coordinator for the Munroe Foundation for nearly 30 years, said she chose the two individuals she feels can and will do the most good for children with disabilities.

“I think they’re wonderful young people and we’re really glad to have had them,” she said.