Ozarka® and the BBQ legend
have teamed up to honor a graduating senior who has overcome
significant adversity on his road to excellence
GIDDINGS, Texas, May 17, 2024
/PRNewswire/ -- When two local favorites, Ozarka®
Texas spring water and iconic
barbecue pitmaster & Giddings High
School staffer Tootsie
Tomanetz, teamed up to sponsor a scholarship in her name,
neither the brand nor Tomanetz imagined they'd find such an
inspirational young man. Jay Kohlman
won the $20,000 Tootsie Tomanetz
Scholarship at the Giddings High School Awards Banquet, an honor
chosen by both Tomanetz and high school staff. Tomanetz and
staffers look for a student who exhibits outstanding leadership,
hard work, academic excellence, and incredible character. In
addition to the scholarship, Ozarka has pledged to send Kohlman
free water for his first two years of college.
"This is truly life-changing for me," said Kohlman. "I would
like to thank Ozarka and Ms. Tomanetz for making this scholarship
possible. With their generosity I will be able to attend a school
of my choice and I can devote more time and effort to my studies. I
hope to make as much a difference in the world as this scholarship
has done for me. I will forever be thankful for this
opportunity."
Kohlman, who carries a 3.65 GPA and is a starter on the varsity
basketball team, is legally a self-supporting homeless minor. His
father died tragically in the fall, leaving Kohlman having to
financially support himself, despite being only 17. In addition to
school, basketball and other school activities, Jay works as many
hours as he can at his local Dairy Queen. He plans to head to Blinn
Community College in Bryan, Texas
in the fall, to begin studying to be a physical therapist. The
community has started a GoFundMe page for Kohlman to further
support him post-graduation, as he begins college.
"When we saw Jay's application, we were floored," said
Garret Young, Brand Manager at
Ozarka. "This incredible young man is exactly the kind of student
we want to champion. He truly embodies the Made in Texas spirit that Ozarka is all about, and we
look forward to seeing everything Jay will achieve in his
life."
"For me, choosing Jay was a no-brainer," said Tomanetz, who is
currently featured in Ozarka's statewide campaign, Made in
Texas. "When Ozarka first brought
up the idea of a scholarship, Jay was exactly the kind of student I
had in mind."
Tomanetz was a housewife when she started cooking barbecue in
1966. Now 89-years-old, her traditional BBQ techniques has earned
her the title of "Queen of Texas BBQ."
About Ozarka® Natural Spring Water
Proudly Texan, Ozarka® Natural Spring Water is committed to helping conserve
the springs where the water is sourced from and proudly supporting
the local communities. Ozarka® Natural Spring Water is sourced from carefully selected
natural springs in Texas. It has a
natural mineral content, providing an unparalleled taste and
quality that quenches the thirst of Texans and their neighboring
communities since 1905.
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SOURCE Ozarka