San Antonio-based BlackBrush Oil & Gas LP, through its non-profit MZ Foundation, has just awarded $25,000 in scholarship money to high school students from Karnes City ISD, Falls City ISD, Montgomery ISD and Poth ISD.

The MZ Foundation is named in memory of Marty Zolkoski, a former BlackBrush executive, who died in July 2005. Zolkoski was a long time South Texas resident who assisted in charities with donations and support.

BlackBrush co-chief executive Scott Martin says, “Marty was passionate about making sure everyone had access to a quality education. Marty graduated from Poth High School in 1974 and received a baseball scholarship to the University of Texas in Austin. After playing with them for two years, he transferred to St. Mary's University where he continued playing baseball. He received a marketing degree from St. Mary's University in 1978.”

In 2008, the MZ Foundation granted college total scholarships of $34,500 to ten students who are now attending Texas State University, UTSA, the University of Texas, University of Houston and the University of Incarnate Word.

The annual MZ Foundation Golf Tournament, held last month in San Antonio, raised $33,000 in money to be used for future scholarships.

Martin adds, “In addition to scholarship money, BlackBrush Oil & Gas LP and the MZ Foundation donate money to local non-profit organizations. Just this past year, it has been our pleasure to donate more than $20,000 to such organizations as the National Multiple Sclerosis Foundation, Make-A-Wish Foundation, Child Advocates of San Antonio, San Antonio Kids Exchange and the Texas Highway Patrol Museum, which assists the families of officers killed in the line of duty by creating scholarships for their children.”