LUBBOCK, Texas -
The Lubbock Mason Lodge (McKenzie Lodge #1327) gave four Lubbock-area high school students a leg-up on their college education Saturday, and awarded Sheriff Kelly Rowe a community honor for his work.
The Masons gave four $1,000 scholarships to students that exemplify the Masons' idea of supporting the community. There were GPA requirements for the students, but the requirements emphasized community service and extracurricular activities. It's the first time the lodge was able to give the scholarships, and lodge master Cole Shooter said it's an opportunity they're proud of.
"We do know that a thousand dollars is a good start," Shooter said, "but it doesn't cover everything. Our goal is, [it's] in case they need a computer, because it'd be very difficult to do higher education right now without a computer; or pay for books, or pay for lodging, or whatever they need in the school itself. We just want to be able to give them a head-start with what we can give, that way they can give back to the community and the world."
The lodge gave Sheriff Rowe the "Community Builder" award that night as well, which is given to a community member that exemplifies the Mason's beliefs in a strong and safe community, as well as developing it -- but, the recipient isn't a member of the lodge. Shooter said Sheriff Rowe was the ideal candidate this year, and they couldn't think of anyone else to honor with it.
