Rebecca Essig receives inaugural Jeffrey Owen Marriott scholarship

Rebecca Essig, recipient of the Jeffrey Owen Marriott Scholarship, is pictured at center with George and Alberta Marriott.

Rebecca Essig, a 2016 Westlake High School graduate, was awarded the first “Jeffrey Owen Marriott Memorial Scholarship” at the Senior Awards Banquet Night earlier this year. The scholarship was established to celebrate the life and contributions of WHS 1992 alum, Jeffrey Marriott, who passed away suddenly in March 2015.

“We felt Rebecca exemplified Jeff’s character, principles, ambition and drive,” said Jeff Hammond, a friend and board member of the Jeffrey Owen Marriott Memorial Scholarship. “Jeff was a scholar athlete at WHS and co-captained his football and basketball teams in 1992,” explained Hammond. “Rebecca demonstrated excellence and was a true leader on and off the fields at WHS. We felt she was a terrific recipient, mirroring Jeff’s caring, kind and considerate personality.”

Essig was a member of WHS’s 2015-2016 soccer and basketball teams, playing a major role in the advancement of her squads into the playoffs through the Southwestern Conference championships and district levels. She earned seven varsity letters – four in basketball and three in soccer – and co-captained both teams her senior year. Further, she was a first-team Southwestern Conference basketball honoree, scholar athlete, WKYC Student-Athlete “Shout Out”, National Honor Society member and placed in the top 50 of her class academically.  She will attend The Ohio State University this fall to pursue a degree in physical therapy.

The Jeffrey Owen Marriott Memorial Scholarship Foundation is a not-for-profit organization established to honor the life and contributions of Jeff Marriott. The foundation will annually award a scholarship to one deserving Westlake High School graduate. The foundation will host an adult-only rally at Time Warp bar, 26261 Center Ridge Rd., on Saturday, Sept. 17, from 6:30-8:30 p.m. Friends and guests are invited to stop by and enjoy drink, food, music and fun.  

Elise Orr

Westlake community member

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Volume 8, Issue 16, Posted 9:47 AM, 08.16.2016