BCB announces Chuck Schafer Scholarship winners
BOARDMAN (June 12, 2016) — Whether it's maintaining a positive spirit or learning to give back, two young men captured the spirit of Boardman Community Baseball and have been honored with the 2016 Chuck Schafer Scholarship.
The two winners, both recent graduates of Boardman High School, are Timothy Wardle and Anthony Bell.
Wardle will continue his education at the University of Cincinnati studying bioengineering while Bell will attend The Ohio State University.
The annual scholarship honors the memory of 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.
In his scholarship essay, Bell noted how Schafer offered his time and talent to allow children the chance to succeed and have fun. Bell follows Schafer's lead by spending time teaching kids to play the string bass, giving them the opportunity to make music.
His seven years with BCB, he said, “has inspired me to give back much more than any dollar amount or object. Boardman Community Baseball inspired me to give back the fun I had as a child.”
Wardle's essay noted how the outlook changes as players grow older. “When younger, good sportsmanship was always evident on games; the players were always kind and just enjoyed the game.” He recalled watching a Challenger baseball game, a league for children with special needs, and noted how opposing players treated each other. “My teammates and I were moved by this and inspired to be more humble.”
Both Bell and Wardle spent their time away from the diamond making music as part of the Boardman High School Orchestra, with Wardle also playing percussion in the marching band.
After BCB, Bell continued to play baseball as a member of the high school team and in the Youngstown Class B league. Among his many activities, he was a member of the Italian Club, Link Crew, Big Spartan-Little Spartan, Key Club and Science Club. A National Honor Society member, he volunteered at the Dorothy Day House, with the Boardman Lions Club and at Stadium Drive Elementary as a tutor.
Wardle spent two years on the BHS track team, one year playing football and one year on the lacrosse team. Also an NHS member, he participated in Emerging Leaders, Relay for Life, volunteered with Habitat for Humanity and was on the BHS Council for Exceptional Children.
Boardman Community Baseball holds the Chuck Schafer Memorial baseball and softball tournament each year to raise money for the scholarship fund. It begins July 1, and Wardle and Bell will be acknowledged during a special ceremony.
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. |
