Western Eagle Valley Rotary Scholarship

As part of an international organization, the Western Eagle Valley Rotary Club works to provide humanitarian services, encourage high ethical standards in all vocations, and help build goodwill and peace in the world. As a long-standing pillar of the Eagle Valley, the Rotarians strive to make this happen locally by opening the door of higher education to all who desire to make such a difference.
This scholarship is in honor of Rotarians Robert Hickey, Alex Huck, Arleen Montag and Sid Spain.

Alex Huck had a 20 career in banking and created the consulting firm Alex Huck & Associates. He also served for 6 years in the Army National Guard. He and his wife Pat were married for 54 years and were devoted parents to their two children Jason and Jenny and proud grandparents to Owen, Stella, Liam and Sophia. He was an avid reader and loved to play games, especially cribbage and pickleball. He was often seen driving around Colorado in his convertible Miata with many days spent rooting for his beloved Chicago Cubs and Green Bay Packers. Alex and his wife Pat lived in numerous locations throughout the U.S. and developed close relationships and tight circles of friends in each and every location.

Robert Hickey was a retired medical school professor who specialized in substance abuse treatment. He was a cancer survivor, kidney transplant recipient, and an advocate for patience rights. He helped over 204 patients receive necessary transplants by streamlining the process of matching organ donors with recipients in need. His passion for helping others connected him with fascinating people throughout the world. Bob’s stories always left you on the edge of your seat, whether he was sharing about the time he sat on a panel discussion with a young Elvis Presley or about his friend, the Doctor, who left medicine to create KC Masterpiece BBQ sauce. Bob was well-connected and used those connections to help enhance the lives of those in his community.

Arleen Montag was a founding member of the Western Eagle Valley Rotary Club. She was passionate about the many causes that Rotary supports locally and internationally. Arleen worked for many years at First American Heritage Title Company in Eagle County and in her later years at a local early-childhood education center. She was a vibrant person who loved the company of her family and friends.

Sid Spain was a retired Naval officer and the Pastor of the Eagle United Methodist Church. He was known as a champion of the underdog, often standing up for the rights of those who were less fortunate or unable to advocate for themselves. Sid had a gift of homily and contributed greatly to the spiritual development of many lives both in and out of the church. He and his wife Robyn, also a retired Navy Veteran, served the community of Eagle in many ways, including their involvement in the Simple Supper Community Dinner which has been serving a weekly dinner for the Eagle community since 2008.