Votruba Family Scholarship

Originally established in 1983 following the death of Mr. William E. Votruba of Traverse City, this scholarship honors his memory, and was established by his wife Gretchen Votruba, who passed away in October 2004. The Votruba family was one of the region"s founding families, with ancestors dating back to the mid/late-1800s when a lumber boom turned Traverse City into a bustling hub. Votruba Leather Goods has been a mainstay of downtown commerce since the era of horse and buggies and is still located in a storefront in the City Opera House building. Frank Votruba was one of the three original owners of the City Opera House in the 1890s. The generations that followed continued the Votruba tradition of civic leadership, volunteerism and advocacy for education and community causes. Almost a century later, the family donated the City Opera House to the City of Traverse City for use as a community cultural and historic center.