SIDNEY — The Sidney-Shelby County YMCA recently awared two memorial scholarships to two local graduates. Receiving scholarships were Kevin Fultz and Katie Edwards.
The Lee E. Schauer Memorial Scholarship was presented to Fultz, a 2017 graduate of Sidney High School. The Lee E. Schauer Memorial Scholarship was established in 1989 by family and friends to honor the memory of this fine young man who lost his life in an accident the summer before his senior year of high school.
Fultz plans to attend the University of Toledo, pursuing a degree in adolescent and young adult education with a concentration in history. He swam on the SHS varsity swim team for two years, earning “Rookie of the Year” his freshman year. He is a member of the YMCA Leaders Club, volunteering more than 221 hours at the Y. He has also volunteered 380 hours with other organizations such as Shelby County Special Olympics, Hands of Hope, St. John’s Lutheran Youth Mission Team and the Sidney First UMC Youth Mission Team.
It was the wish of the Schauer family that this scholarship be awarded to a college-bound high school senior for whom the award will truly make a difference. For that reason, the award is intended to reach those students who may not qualify for other scholarships – “average” students who are involved in their community and in school activities, who are leaders and display character traits like caring, honesty, respect and responsibility, but whose GPA may eliminate them from consideration for other scholarships.
The $12,000 is payable over four years, and students must establish proof of satisfactory progress to renew each year.
Edwards, a 2017 graduate of Lehman Catholic High School was the recipient of the Jim Lantz Memorial Scholarship. The Sidney-Shelby County YMCA, in collaboration with generous benefactors, established the Jim Lantz Memorial Scholarship in 2011 in memory of Jim Lantz.
Edwards plans to attend Wright State University where she will major in nursing. She has been a four-year varsity soccer player at Lehman and also played basketball, softball and volleyball. At the Y, she was involved in in the gymnastics program and indoor soccer program. She has volunteered more than 40 hours in the community with organizations such as the Recycling Center and Lady Cavs Soccer Camp.
Lantz was a sophomore at Sidney High School. He died in an automobile accident in November 1986. He would have graduated in June 1989. Lantz had planned to go to medical school, and his dream was to become a doctor. He played football and basketball and he was a 4.0 student. He was also a member of the Boy Scouts and enjoyed opportunities to help others through community service.
The scholarship is a one year nonrenewable $1,000 scholarship established in his memory, and will be available at all area high schools and the local YMCA. Applicants must be a college bound high school senior and a Shelby County resident. The minimum GPA for qualification is 2.5, and after qualification GPA is not a factor.
