Select group of athletes honored
That which separated a select group of student/athletes from its peers is also what brought the group together for Tuesday’s 53rd annual B’nai B’rith Sports Awards Night. Nobody disagreed with guest speaker Tim O’Malley, executive director of the WPIAL, when he simply stated the obvious about this year’s B’nai B’rith class. Nor should anybody have disagreed.
“Your skills have survived the test of time,” O’Malley said. “You have proven to be the cream of the crop, the best of the best. You challenged yourselves in the classroom and accepted the challenge of participating in interscholastic sports.”
O’Malley presented four key aspects to what indeed has separated this special group from its peers.
“First, you’re a competitor,” he said. “Second, you’re not afraid to fail, which is a sign of trust in your abilities. Third, you are not going to quit because you realize that what may not be good enough to win today may be good enough tomorrow. And, lastly, you are a shining example of the eternal optimist.”
O’Malley also offered a bit of advice to the gathering, which included the top student/athlete from each of Fayette County’s seven high schools and Penn State Fayette, The Eberly Campus, plus a Special Olympics honoree.
“Many sacrifices have been made and will be made and there have been words of encouragement that came your way. Those things help keep you grounded,” he said. “Time the time to remember and acknowledge those who have had even the smallest influence on your life.”
Before O’Malley spoke, several awards were bestowed by the Uniontown Rotary Club, which took over as sole sponsor of the event, which has been sponsored for its first half century by B’nai B’rith Lodge 471.
Co-chairman Rabbi Sion David presented a surprise award to Rev. Louis Ridgley, who was bestowed the Chai Award for his many years of service and dedication to B’nai B’rith.
“I’m very touched,” Ridgley said. “I wondered why all of my children are here. Thank you for selecting me for this very prestigious award.”
Two Penn State Fayette, The Eberly Campus students also were honored. Therman S. King was awarded a $500 scholarship (which will be matched by the local campus) to Fayette for the next academic semester. Women’s volleyball player Heather Kelly was selected as Fayette’s top scholar/athlete for the past season.
Also honored, in fact the stars of the night, were:
n Jamie Basinger of Dawson, Special Olympics athlete of the year.
n Albert Gallatin’s Michael Gerard Petrun of Smithfield.
n Brownsville’s Cameron Coffey of Brownsville.
n Connellsville’s Shane Daugherty of Dunbar.
n Frazier’s Nathan Fisher of Perryopolis.
n Geibel Catholic’s Rebecca Sandor of Smithfield.
n Laurel Highlands’ Ethan Mildren of Hopwood.
n Uniontown’s Nathan Wagner of Uniontown.