Elana Kaplan Wins Leadership Award

Elana Kaplan, a John Jay High School graduating senior, was awarded the Pound Ridge Woman Republican Club’s Wilma C. Rogalin Leadership Scholarship at Senior Recognition Night held at the high school on May 19. In recognition of her many achievements an award of $1,000.00 was bestowed upon Ms. Kaplan at the annual event. This fall, Elana plans on attending Elon University in North Carolina.

The Wilma C. Rogalin Leadership Scholarship was established in March, 2012 in memoriam of Wilma C. Rogalin, a former Pound Ridge Women’s Republican Club president who actively volunteered in all aspects of Republican Party politics at the local, state, and federal levels. She was a tireless volunteer in the Pound Ridge community, holding several leadership positions. Her career spanned nearly 40 years with Pan American World Airways where she was the global corporate director of human resource and labor relations. Appointed to the Defense Advisory Committee for Women in the Armed Services, Ms. Rogalin worked on women’s rights and entitlement in the military and served one term as chairman. In 2000 and posthumously in 2012, the New York State Senate honored her as a “Woman of Distinction.” Westchester County Government also honored her posthumously in 2012 with a proclamation. The annual scholarship honors her legacy of strong leadership and dedication to pubic service.

The PRWRC Scholarship Committee selected Elana for her exceptional leadership skills, academic excellence and community service. Ranked in the top five percent of her graduating class, she has received numerous scholastic awards including induction into the National Honor and French National Honor Societies. She was the regional finalist presenting in Junior Science and Humanities Symposium at the University of Albany and placed Fourth at the Westchester-Rockland Junior Science and Humanities Symposium Speaker Competition in Behavior. In addition, excelling at field hockey she was Co-Captain of her high school Varsity team and selected as an NYSPHSAA Section 1 All-League Player. Elana’s leadership skills were also manifested by her roles as Co-Leader of the A Cappella Group, Co-Treasurer of the French Club, and her participation in Chant Torah at her synagogue. While accomplishing these achievements, she maintained an above average grade point average in her course work that included many Advance Placement and Honors subjects.

The PRWRC welcomes donations for the annual scholarship. To help support next year’s award, send a check payable to PRWRC, P.O. Box 353, Pound Ridge, NY, 10576 with the word “scholarship” written in the memo. Inquiries or comments could be sent to PRWRC1952@gmail.com.