Huck, Beato earn Schafer scholarship
BOARDMAN, June 2015 — Upholding the ideals of Chuck Schafer himself, the 2015 winners of the Boardman Community Baseball Chuck Schafer memorial scholarship said it all comes down to family.
Whether family consists of teammates, parents or the Boardman community at large, both Kristen Huck and Gino Beato, said it was BCB that opened their eyes to the opportunity to give and receive support.
Huck and Beato, both recent graduates of Boardman High School and longtime players in Boardman Community Baseball, were chosen as this year's $2,500 scholarship recipients based on grades, community service and an essay discussing how BCB has helped structure and affect their daily lives.
Noting the spirit of community present in BCB, Huck said in her essay, “Whether it was my dad coaching me from third base, or my mom and sister cheering me on from the sideline, they were always there to support me. Not only my family gave me support, but also so many coaches and parents who were there supporting their own children.”
Beato noted that he played on the first combined BCB 12-year-old all-star team, after the league did away with the East and West divisions.
“I looked out into the stands seeing a variety of different families and people from around our town cheering for us to win. I now see just what my team had accomplished for Boardman. We worked together as a family would do; only caring about each other which not only made us a closer knit group, but all of Boardman.”
Beato and Huck will be honored and receive their checks for $2,500 during the 12th annual Chuck Schafer Scholarship Tournament on June 26-28 at the Fields of Dreams on McClurg Road in Boardman.
Planning to pursue a degree in engineering at Youngstown State University, Beato played baseball for BHS and was also a member of the Medical Careers Club, Italian National Honor Society and Italian Club. He served as a confirmation sponsor at St. Charles Church and did service work for the Lions Club, the American Red Cross and the Knights of Columbus, all while maintaining a 3.95 GPA.
Along with family, responsibility echoed through both scholarship recipients' essays.
“I learned that every action I choose to do has a reaction and affects not only myself but the people around me,” Beato said.
Huck noted, “One of the most important tasks of being a student athlete is learning to be organized and disciplined. My years as a young athlete set the foundation for that important skill necessary for success in high school, college, and my future life.”
A four-year BHS cheerleader, softball and soccer player, Huck was also a member of Link Crew, Emerging Leaders and National Honor Society. She plans to study middle school mathematics at The Ohio State University. Her service work includes math tutoring, and assisting as a youth soccer volunteer and a cheer camp instructor.
The annual scholarship honors the memory of Chuck Schafer, the talented architect who designed the Fields of Dreams complex to cater to the children and families who love Little League baseball as he did.
Boardman Community Baseball holds the Chuck Schafer Memorial baseball and softball tournament each year to raise money for the scholarship fund.
Applications for the scholarship are accepted through the spring each year. Eligible students must have participated in BCB for at least five years and be a senior with at least a 2.75 GPA.
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