Vol. 15 •Issue 16 • Page 11
Asthma Athletes Earn Big Bucks In National Scholarship Competition
The nation’s most talented high school athletes with asthma walked away with thousands of dollars in scholarship money in mid-July, thanks to the efforts of Schering/Key’s “Will to Win” Asthma Scholarship program.
Featured guests at this year’s event were Mary Slaney, the most accomplished American middle and long distance runner in U.S. history; Olympic high jump champion and TV sports commentator Dwight Stones; tennis champion Billie Jean King; and Olympic gold medal diver Greg Louganis. All have coped with asthma at some point in their lives and serve as models for the nation’s youth. All four were on hand for the 18th annual presentation held at ESPN Zone in New York City.
WINNERS’ CIRCLE
Recipient of the top Gold Award of $20,000 was David Wilson of Hamilton Square, N.J. He is a three-time Mid-Atlantic Prep League Champion in the two-mile run and is considered one of the top 10 high school cross-country runners in the nation. He will be attending Harvard University.
Four recipients walked away with $12,500 Silver Awards each. Included are Nathan Blevins, Goshen, Ohio; Shannon Brewer, Hickory, N.C.; Jeffrey Courtney, Fairmont, W.V.; and Louann Juricich, Citrus Heights, Calif. Blevins participates in basketball, football and track and earned All-District, All-Conference, All-Ohio accolades in football and All-District and All-Conference awards in basketball.
Brewer is a three-time All-American swimmer and was the North Carolina State Champion in the 50- and 100-yard freestyle in both her junior and senior years. Courtney is a three-time All-State Champion in freestyle and Greco-Roman wrestling and an All-State football player. Juricich is a third degree Black Belt in Tae Kwon Do and is the California State Champion in both forms and sparring. She is currently ranked among the top ten martial arts performers in the world in her age group.
Recipients of $5,000 Bronze Awards included: Connor Hughes, Williamsburg, Va.; Laura Brandt, New Haven, Mo.; James Nelson, Jamestown, N.Y.; Amber McMeans, Hurst, Texas; and Nathan J. Burdick of Seattle.
In addition to these traditional “Will to Win” scholarships, other awards were also presented.
Meghan Nadeau, Ticonderoga, N.Y., earned the “Fighting Spirit” Award of $5,000. Along with asthma, she has battled cystic fibrosis her entire life and has .competed at the state level in track and gymnastics.
The “Local Hero” Award of $2,500 went to soccer player Kara Benson of New York City.
The athletes were selected from more than 4,300 applicants nationwide.
All four featured guests have managed asthma successfully and serve as inspirations to the nation’s young athletes. .
• For “Will to Win” shcolarship applications for the year 2003, call 1-800-558-7305 in November 2002.
You can reach Caroline Crispino at [email protected].