The Thomas and Phyllis O’Malley Scholarship
The Thomas and Phyllis O’Malley Scholarship, annually awarded to a Mound Westonka High School graduating senior, is a tribute to a couple with a lifetime dedication to education. Christopher O’Malley, the youngest son of Thomas and Phyllis O’Malley, established this scholarship as a way of memorializing the contribution that his father and mother have made to the Westonka School District.
Thomas and Phyllis, both natives of New York, graduated from Oyster Bay High School. Thomas went on to receive his B.A. and M.A. from St. John’s University in Brooklyn and was pursuing his PH.D at his untimely death in 1964. Thomas was a professor in the many disciplines of psychology. He taught at the graduate school of Seaton Hall University (NJ) and at City College of New York. His death occurred during his term as a Mound School District Board member. During his six short years in Minnesota, he was a frequent P.T.A speaker on parent education.
Phyllis worked as a music teacher at the School of Fine Arts on Long Island. She also worked in insurance and for a daily newspaper. Phyllis served as a board member for District #287, a district dedicated to challenging students whose needs cannot be met within their local school district. Mound Westonka and twelve other west suburban school districts are members of District #287. Phyllis was an engaged member of the Westonka School District from 1958 to 2000. She served on P.T.A, been a member of several tasks forces, served as a school board member, worked on many referendum and bond issues and was appointed by Governor Al Quie to the State Board of Teaching.
If “to learn is to change”, then Thomas and Phyllis were always “becoming”. This scholarship seems to be the most fitting instrument to perpetuate the values of education that Thomas and Phyllis fostered. Although the scholarship is designed to attract applicants with interests in arts and psychology, it remains open to other areas of study. The entire O’Malley family shares in the wonderful satisfaction that this scholarship generates in helping to further the education of those students who have achieved academic excellence and enhanced their personal development through participation in extra-curricular activities in the school and/or in the community.
Scholarship Recipients
- 2024 - Averie Zealley - University of Portland (See Announcement here)
- 2023 - Emily Schneider - St. Olaf College (See Announcement here)
- 2022 - Ingrid Aufderheide - University of Wisconsin, Madison (See announcement here)
- 2021 - Grace Carlson - University of Wisconsin, Madison (See announcement here)
- 2020 – Olivia Martel - Loyola University Chicago (See announcement here)
- 2019 – Charles Reinhardt - St. Lawrence University (See announcement here)
- 2018 – Rose Helland - University of Wisconsin, River Falls (See announcement here)
- 2015 – Allie Strehle - Texas Christian University (See announcement here)
- 2014 – Alexandra Bebeau - Gustavus Adolphus College (See announcement here)
- 2013 – Kelly O'Brien - University of Minnesota- Carlson School of Management (See announcement here)
- 2012 – Connor Hanson - University of Wisconsin at Madison (See announcement here)
- 2011 – Madelyn Warloff - University of Minnesota (See announcement here)
- 2010 – Cassandra Gierszewski - University of Wisconsin Steven's Point (See announcement here)
- 2009 – Joseph O'Neil - Macalester College
- 2008 – Jessica Skelton - University of St. Thomas
- 2008 – Will Olson - Grinnel College
- 2007 – Daniel Deveny - University of Notre Dame
- 2006 – Will Olson - Grinnel College
- 2006 – Daniel Deveny - University of Notre Dame
- 2005 – Will Olson - Grinnel College
- 2004 – Garret Anderson - University of Wisconsin
- 2003 – Jeffrey Winter - St. Cloud State University
- 2002 – Jacob Hanson - University of Minnesota
- 2002 – Jeffrey Winter - St. Cloud State University
- 2001 – Jeffrey Winter - St. Could State University
- 2001 – Michael Younes - University of St. Thomas
- 2000 – Jeffrey Winter - St. Cloud State University
- 2000 – Michael Younes - University of St. Thomas
- 1999 – Michael Younes - University of St. Thomas