51st annual B’nai B’rith Sports Night banquet scheduled May 22
The 51st annual B’nai B’rith Sports Night banquet will be held at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, May 22, at the Uniontown Jewish Community Center. Al Owens, a Uniontown native and columnist for the Herald-Standard, will be the featured speaker. Also to be honored that night are Michael J. Rogers, who will receive a scholarship to help fund his second year at Penn State Fayette, The Eberly Campus, and Bob Merlin, who will be honored as this year’s Special Olympics athlete.
B’nai B’rith Fayette Lodge also will honor the top student/athletes from each of Fayette County’s seven high schools.
The local chapter received a helping hand from Uniontown Rotary this year. The service club agreed to help the B’nai B’rith chapter organize and host the banquet, which is a highlight of the scholastic sports season, in that it brings together athletes from different sports and different schools.
Owens has been a writer for the Herald-Standard since 1997, but he has made numerous stops at newspapers and television stations across the country. He is well versed in politics and societal issues, but his true love in sports. He is proudest of his accomplishments as webmaster of redraidernation.com, a website dedicated to Uniontown High School athletics.
Rogers is a son of Shirley and Mike Rogers of Markleysburg. He studies electrical engineering at the local campus and hopes to aid the global energy crisis. He earned a 3.46 grade-point average in his first semester. He is a member of the Outdoor Adventure Club and works at the campus for Network Services. Michael enjoys many sports and was a member of the All-County golf team in high school. He also was a member of the math team and National Honor Society.
Merlin, 54, has been a resident of Laurel House, Inc., since 1979. He does exceptionally well in all he does and adapts to situations without frustration. A well-rounded athlete, Robert participates in all sports offered to him, including swimming, track and field, equestrian, soccer, basketball and bowling. He is also a good sport who has fun participating as an athlete.
Merlin has a great rapport with his family. He is a son of David and Shirley Merlin and has a brother, Howard, and a sister, Judy. He has won many medals from his participation in athletics.