Eight area students were recently awarded athletics-focused scholarships from funds managed by the Cattaraugus Region Community Foundation.
Kendall Tompkins of Cuba-Rushford Central School was awarded the Kaleigh Wilday Scholar Athlete Award for $1,000.
This scholarship is awarded to a scholar athlete who is part of a scholar-athlete team during her or his senior year. The Cuba-Rushford Athletic Committee chooses the recipient of the scholar-athlete award, which includes the $1,000 scholarship.
The Kaleigh Wilday Endowment Fund, established by Ward “Skip” and Greta Wilday in memory of their daughter, makes possible this award.
Tompkins plans to study nursing at Alfred State College.
Calvin Williams of Olean High School received the OHS Walter L. Reisner Unsung Lineman Award for $500.
This scholarship is funded through the Walt and Ruth Reisner Fund, established as an endowment by Ruth Reisner in memory of her late husband, Walt Reisner. The award is for a graduating OHS varsity football letter winner. The scholarship is named for Walter L. Reisner, Walt’s grandfather, a standout Olean football player who went on to play at Muhlenberg College, where he was honored as a member of the all-time Muhlenberg football team.
Williams plans to study culinary arts at Alfred State University.
Brett Bergstrom of Hinsdale, Simon Carleton of Portville and Kamren Anderson of Randolph central schools were awarded the Patrick Shinners Memorial Team Player Scholarship for $250.
Established in memory of Salamanca-native Patrick Shinners by the Southwestern Chapter of the New York State Association of Certified Football Officials, this award is for players in Cattaraugus and Chautauqua counties who are a graduating senior and have participated in football for at least one school year. The ideal candidate is a player who was there for the team; a player who was not the team hero, but who came to practice knowing that he may not be in the game on Friday night. All applicants for the award are nominated by their high school football coaches.
Bergstrom plans to study business administration at St. Bonaventure University. Carleton plans to study criminal justice at Alfred State College.
Riley Koyack of Hamburg High School received the Mark J. Prockton Memorial Scholarship for $700.
The Prockton scholarship is for a graduating senior from Hamburg High School who has lettered in cross country and has the highest GPA. Gregg and Mike Prockton established the scholarship in memory of their brother Mark J. Prockton, a former New York City School teacher, Hamburg High School alumnus and runner.
Koyack plans to study psychology at Stony Brook University.
Aidan Pope and Isabella Caparco of Hamburg High School were awarded the Hamburg Track Scholarship for $350.
This scholarship is for Hamburg High School track athletes who exhibit strong academic performance, athletic performance and character.
Pope plans to study nursing at SUNY Brockport. Caparco plans to study medical studies at Seton Hill University.
Donations can be made to any of these funds at CRCF, 301 N. Union St., Suite 203, or online at cattfoundation.org.
The Cattaraugus Region Community Foundation is the area’s supportive, responsive and trusted community foundation. Established in 1994, CRCF is growing good by connecting donors to the causes they care about most in the region. Grants from the foundation support many areas, including education, scholarships, health care, the arts, community development, human service, and youth development. To learn more, call (716) 301-CRCF (2723), email [email protected], or visit online at www.cattfoundation.org. CRCF is also on Facebook (facebook.com/cattfoundation) and Twitter (@CattFoundation).
