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To honor distinguished REALTOR® and community volunteer Margo Wheeler, the Seattle King County First Citizen Foundation will award a $5,000 scholarship in her name to the highest ranked high school scholarship applicant. Ms. Wheeler, a beloved leader and a managing broker at the John L. Scott Real Estate|Tacoma University Place office, died last month.
In announcing the special recognition, Sharon O’Mahony, president of Seattle King County Realtors®, (SKCR) said Wheeler “was a very special woman who had a lasting impact on those she met.” She noted the First Citizen scholarships recognize traits of leadership, community service, civic engagement and volunteerism – traits exemplified by Margo Wheeler.
At the time of her passing, Wheeler was the 2023 vice president of association affairs for the National Association of Realtors® (NAR). Her real estate career spanned nearly 30 years, during which time she held numerous leadership roles at NAR, including service as president of the National Women’s Council of Realtors NAR’s Housing Opportunity Community, Diversity Committee, Fair Housing Discriminatory Effects Committee, and the Equal Opportunity-Cultural Diversity Committee. She also held leadership positions at Washington Realtors and the Tacoma-Pierce County Association of Realtors.
NAR’s CEO, Bob Goldberg, said “Margo was a devoted and gracious volunteer leader who lived by the principle of service and commitment,” and who was “guided by her devotion to mentorship and giving back.”
Wheeler transitioned to real estate following more than 20 years of service in the U.S. Army. That experience, which involved moving 10 times, led her to specialize in serving military families and others facing difficult transitions. She was a licensed instructor who taught courses for NAR’s Military Relocation Professional and At Home with Diversity certifications, as well as first-time homebuyer education classes through the Washington State Housing Finance Commission.
April 1 is the scholarship application deadline. To apply, candidates must use the online form and meet selection criteria. First Citizen scholarships are available to Realtor and Affiliate members of Seattle King County Realtors in good standing, as well as their children, foster children, grandchildren, nieces and nephews.
Since 1999, the Seattle First Citizen Scholarship Foundation has awarded more than $543,000 in educational scholarships to 315 students. The not-for-profit foundation was established in affiliation with Seattle King County Realtors by Stanley O. McNaughton, CEO of PEMCO Insurance. The business leaders/philanthropist provided an initial investment in 1997 to acknowledge SKCR’s role in establishing the annual Seattle King County First Citizen Award that honors leadership and community service. McNaughton received the prestigious civic award in 1996.
About Seattle King County REALTORS® The Seattle King County Realtors is a nonprofit professional trade association whose goals include promoting ethical business practices and supporting policies that preserve and expand real property rights and housing affordability. Based in Bellevue, SKCR has more than 7,700 members and is a local board of the National Association of Realtors. The term REALTOR® is a registered collective membership mark that identifies a real estate professional who is a member of the National Association of Realtors and subscribes to its strict Code of Ethics.