May 30, 2013
The Selection Committee of the Cohen Family Valpak Scholarship today announced the recipient of its 2013 scholarship award.
Anastasia “Nikki” Arnett, a graduating senior at Wichita’s Heights High School, will receive a scholarship in the total amount of $40,000, paid in annual installments of $10,000. Nikki has been accepted to attend Wichita State University in the fall.
In her application, Nikki expressed an interest in studying business and one day opening her own gymnastics academy. An accomplished gymnast in her own right, Nikki won two All Around State Championships and eleven Individual Event State Championships. She now works in coaching younger girls in gymnastics. Nikki capably balanced these extra-curricular activities with high academic achievement, earning all A’s in high school and now graduating as class valedictorian.
The Cohen Family Valpak Scholarship was established in 2011 by Jeff and Marsha Cohen of New Jersey following the success of their Valpak franchise in the New York/New Jersey region. When Jeff established the scholarship fund, he recalls asking himself, “why not give a scholarship with some real heft, so that it could really change somebody’s life?” For this reason, the scholarship is awarded to one student per year.
The scholarship is intended exclusively for children of Valpak employees from anywhere in the United States. Nikki’s father Jon is the General Manager of Valpak of Central Kansas.
Scholarship recipients are required to maintain a grade point average of 3.0 and to submit their grades annually to the Community Foundation of New Jersey.
The Community Foundation of New Jersey administers the scholarship on behalf of the Cohen family.