The Gold Rose Award honors a Sustaining Member of the Junior League of Topeka for their ongoing positive impact on our community. It is the most prestigious award given by The Junior League of Topeka, and honors someone who has used their league training to contribute to the betterment of the Topeka Community. This years recipient is Jenay Weekly. 

With a passion for education, Jenay has touched literally hundreds of students through the school and community organizations in which she has been involved for many years. She is tireless in her pursuit of educational opportunities for Topeka students as well as in the performing arts, enhancing the quality of life in our community. Jenay is an excellent communicator, sets high standards for herself and others and most importantly, provides tools for students to achieve their goals. She attributes JLT with providing her training and initial experiences in volunteerism.

Her important focus on children saw her direct plays and musicals at Robinson Middle School for 36 years. She has received recognition for her efforts by being named a Woman of Excellence in the Educator category by the YWCA, Outstanding Gifted Ed teacher in the State of Kansas, and awarded the Distinguished Staff Award for Secondary Education by USD#501. 

A most significant outcome of her passion and the training JLT provided is the Topeka Model United Nations. USD #501 cut the program, and Jenay led the efforts to find funding for continued growth to over 600 student delegates. She served as the director for 20 years, and there is now a student award in her name. 

Some of the organizations Jenay has been involved with include: 

President, Performing Arts for Children 

Director and Teacher, Melody Brown Fun Factory Summer Camp 

Board of Trustees, Topeka Civic Theatre 

Board of Directors, Topeka Festival Singers 

President, PEO Chapter FI 

President, Topeka PEO Cooperative Board 

Jenay joined JLT in 1979 and while an active member chaired and helped create the Children’s Discovery Room at the Kansas Museum of History. She was a teacher for a JLT school program working on self esteem and alcohol and drug education, served as the JayTalk editor and worked on Next to New.

As a sustaining member, Jenay has served on the Sustainer Relations Committee and is a contributing writer for the Capital Impact magazine.