Nick Holda talks about Scotland to Rotarians
By GREG COLLINS Publicity Director

Kilgore Rotary Club President David Castles with Rotary Ambassadorial Scholar, Nick Holda, home from a year of study at the University of Aberdeen, Scotland.

Nick Holda, a KHS graduate and a University of Texas who recently spent nine months in Aberdeen, Scotland as part of the Rotary International Ambassadorial Scholarship Program, was the guest speaker at the Kilgore Rotary Club on Wednesday.

Holda, the son of Dr. Bill Holda, president of Kilgore College and himself an Ambassadorial Scholar when he was finishing college, took two years to complete the application and interview process. He then spent several months getting ready for his journey before taking off for Scotland.

While in Scotland, he attended Aberdeen University and finished two-thirds of the graduate program in Business. He then earned an agreement that allows him to go back sometime in the next five years or so and spend a June, July and part of August finishing the program.

His grades were fairly good but will probably not transfer to a post graduate program in the U.S. In fact, he was at the top of his class for the first semester. He finds out his second semester grades in a couple of weeks.

He spent his months interacting with Rotarians in Scotland, attending all of the clubs in Aberdeen, and also attended other Rotary clubs in Bulgaria while he was vacationing with his roommate as well as a couple of others. He also attended Rotary functions and enjoyed bagpipe music and dancing.

He traveled to see the Loch Ness Monster and also took several trips to the scenic Scottish Highlands. He also took a course through the university to learn how to play golf. He did not say, however, if he was any good after getting lessons in the birthplace of the game.

He said Aberdeen is on the border of the North Sea and is directly across the sea from Norway. He said the weather can change in just a few minutes, and he added the temperatures could go from the 60s to the 30s in a heartbeat.

He also said driving on the wrong side of the road was a definite challenge, and, while he had a couple of scares, it was for the most part a positive experience.

He said Scottish people in his area, for the most part, were positive in talking about America since oil was a big part of his area and people from Texas had been there a lot to train the drilling companies.

He also said he learned a lot about different cultures since most of the students at the university were from other lands other than Scotland. And, he said, he was able to make friends from around the world.

Holda said the experience was one he will never forget, and he thanked the Kilgore Rotary Club for helping him go. He hopes to go back one day and finish his program, but for now he is in the working mode and wants to see where life will take him in that direction.

In other Rotary news, scholarship recipients from Kilgore and Sabine were present to be recognized by the club. Attending were Angelica Ibarra, Liz Murphy, Amber Hogue and Colton Gibbs. Unable to attend were Caitlyn Cash, Robin Kennedy, Megan Schitoskey and Travis Warlick.

Getting recognized for perfect attendance were Charla Rolph, five years; David Castles, seven years; Charley Corbin, seven years; Greg Collins, 14 years; Bob Miracle, 19 years and Nick Hearne, 30 years.

Rotarians will put out flags for Flag Day next week and leave them out until after July 4th. This will give club members a bit of a break from having to do three flag days in six weeks.

President-elect Sammy York will be installed on Tuesday, June 24 at Meadowbrook Country Club but will not assume office until July 1. Then, the first meeting of his year will see Steve Brown of Kilgore, the upcoming District Governor, make his visit. Brown will be installed on Saturday, June 28 at Meadowbrook Country Club.

Next week, Rotarians will bring those people who help with flag routes to be honored.

Lloyd Nelson, an Overton Rotarian, will speak next week on the Texas A&M Ag Farm.