6/19/08

Vocational scholarship honors former Kiwanis

The Marysville Kiwanis club will present its first Kenneth J. Ploeger scholarship award to Lindsey Radunz at its monthly 7 a.m. breakfast meeting on June 24 at the Village Restaurant.

Lindsey, a 2008 M-PHS graduate, plans to attend Everett Community College to pursue her interest in video production.

The vocational-technological memorial scholarship is given in honor of Kenneth Ploeger, a Marysville Kiwanis member who dedicated his life to his family, the U.S. Navy, his community, and the cause of helping children. Ploeger died August 15, 2007, and his family, friends and club members created the memorial scholarship fund in his memory.

Ploeger, who spent 24 years in the Navy, was an electronics technician and electrician. After retiring from the Navy, Ploeger continued to work as a technician with the Marysville School District, Simplex, Sonitrol and the City of Marysville.

“Ken loved learning, but had a hard time with classes and school,” said his widow, Penelope Ploeger. “He was a blue-collar worker. That’s one reason I chose to encourage a vocational ed tech student scholarship.”

The initial Ploeger scholarship is for $500, but Penelope Ploeger hopes the fund will grow to allow $1000 gifts in years to come. “We’ll need to raffle off many baskets to get to that level,” she said.

“Ken had a restless mind and was always looking for new challenges and experiences,” said Mrs. Ploeger. “He was an avid outdoorsman, and loved hunting and fishing.”

The Kiwanis Club awards other scholarships for academic excellence and, in honor of Ploeger, established this scholarship for students pursuing a vocational education.