The Gift of Affirmation
When asked how he got involved in
so many local endeavors, Gary
Rozek answers simply, "I said
yes."
Born and raised in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and
the second of seven siblings, he's a man
deeply rooted in family and community
life. Rozek finds that Kirkwood mirrors
his enthusiasm for tackling innovative and
entrepreneurial projects. (Included in a
long list of cutting-edge educational efforts,
Kirkwood has built a wind turbine, a winery,
a world-class teaching hotel and a regionally
recognized healthcare simulation center -
with no indication of slowing the growth of
such innovations.)
"Kirkwood is serving a great need for
education by minding the gap, helping some
students into a career in just two years while
providing others what they need through
professional Continuing Education courses,"
Rozek asserts. Rozek should know. He is the
Chairman of Centro, a company founded
by his father in 1970, which supports the
needs of original equipment manufacturers
for custom rotationally molded products.
"Centro has used Kirkwood's 260E program
for on-the-job employee training. Also,
a number of new employees have come
to work at Centro after completing the
advanced manufacturing program offered by
a partnership between Kirkwood and Mount
Mercy University."
Rozek's role at Centro is just one of the many
hats Rozek dons in the Corridor. He's also
served as board president for the National
Czech and Slovak Museum, and was a driving
force behind the museum's renovation and
move to higher ground: "Putting it back
together after the '08 flood was a labor
of love. My grandfather came over from
Czechoslovakia. I love its mission and how
special it is to Cedar Rapids."
Kirkwood is an important beneficiary of
Rozek's philanthropy. He's a longtime
member of the Facilities Foundation board
and, in addition to personal gifts to the
Kirkwood Foundation, he's established both
the Centro Endowed Scholarship and the
Gary Rozek Endowed Golf Scholarship, both
of which will support our students forever.
"I was facing some tough decisions for the
upcoming year in prioritizing my goals, and
finances are certainly a large consideration as
I work towards earning my degree," reveals
Kirkwood student Brian Schreck in his letter
of thanks for receiving the 2013-2014 Gary
Rozek Endowed Golf Scholarship. "This
will make it possible for me to continue my
pursuit of two things very dear to me: my
desire to one day serve the public as a police
officer and to continue to represent Kirkwood
Community College as a member of the golf
team."
Rozek has played golf for most of his life, and
at one time considered pursuing the sport
professionally. Why did he want to create
a golf scholarship? "There are many life
lessons in the sport. It teaches you honesty,
discipline, etiquette, sportsmanship and
integrity." It's clear these are lessons Rozek
learned well.