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Waltsak, Goodchild winners of 2009 Obernesser scholarships |
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EAST LONGMEADOW Each year, the East Longmeadow High School booster clubs for both the boys and girls soccer teams award the Ned Obernesser Soccer Scholarship in recognition of his many years of support and dedication to the game of soccer at all levels in the town of East Longmeadow.
It is never easy to pick one individual over another, especially when there are so many candidates that fulfill the criteria.
This year's boy's recipient is Shane Waltsak, an honor student and a consistently hard-playing midfielder. He is a model of sportsmanship, never complaining, and a team leader. He is actively involved in tutoring other students at the high school; he also spends time in working with autistic children in the Springfield school system. He has involved himself in community service by assisting in youth soccer clinics. On top of all that he also holds down a job at a local country club. He is planning on attending college next year, pursuing a career in health sciences.
Christina Goodchild, this year's girls soccer recipient, has been playing soccer for many years. As a student athlete, she is a model of continuous improvement. She has a certain grit and fight about her both in training and in the game, yet she knows how to keep things fun, enjoyable and light. She has the competitive drive that is necessary to exceed at the highest levels. She has played multiple positions over the past two years without complaint or comment, always for the greater good of the team. She cares about her teammates and their well being both on and off the field.
The award is funded annually by the boosters through their hard work and dedicated efforts in fund raising. It has traditionally been supported through the concession stand at the athletic stadium, by car washes, raffles and generous contributions from soccer supporters. The scholarship is kind of a blue collar award; the recipient does not have to be a super star soccer player or an academically gifted student. It is presented to a graduating senior from both the boys and girls soccer teams that exemplify qualities that we stress while coaching and refereeing soccer at the youth level, including sportsmanship, leadership and hard work
The recipients of this scholarship award must:
- be recognized for having a solid work ethic as defined by their play on the soccer field throughout the regular season
- be recognized for demonstrating leadership qualities as defined by a record of involvement in extra curricular activities at the high school and/or in civic activities within the town of East Longmeadow
- be recognized as having demonstrated good sportsmanship throughout their soccer career
- be recognized as being a leader on the soccer field throughout the regular season
- be a graduating senior from East Longmeadow High School in the academic year the award is presented
- be admitted to, enrolled in or planning on attending a full-time undergraduate program at an accredited institution of higher education including both community or junior colleges
- be a member of East Longmeadow High School varsity soccer for at least two years including the academic year the award is being presented and
- be in good academic standing.
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