Group to ask Stuczynski for ideas about scholarship

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Group to ask Stuczynski for ideas about scholarship

By Holly Hewitt CHAUTAUQUA CORRESPONDENT
Updated: 09/30/08 6:44 AM

FREDONIA — Jenn Stuczynski, Olympic silver medalist in the pole vault this year and a village native, will be asked for her ideas on how to utilize a total of $10,000 set aside for a student scholarship in her honor.

The money was raised through the grass-roots efforts of the Fredonia Olympic Celebration Committee over the course of several months. The community group met Monday night in Village Hall.

It initially was formed to raise money to send the Stuczynski family from Fredonia to China so they could watch Jenn compete. The monetary goal for those travel arrangements was reached quickly, yet the money kept coming to the committee from people in the local and surrounding areas.

The committee held a celebration for Jenn Stuczynski on Sunday in the Fredonia High School auditorium. The Olympian and her trainer, Rick Suhr, attended. Fredonia is Stuczynski’s high school alma mater. About 500 people attended the event, chaired by community member Julie Essek and a large group of community volunteers.

After much discussion Monday night, it was decided Stuczynski would be consulted as to how best design the student scholarship. The committee hopes the money will last for many years and help many students. The money will be turned over to the Community Foundation of Northern Chautauqua County to create a formal fund. Once established, community members may continue to contribute to the fund.

The group will meet again when they have heard back from Stuczynski. The group also plans a flag pole and monument dedication in Barker Common in downtown Fredonia to honor Stuczynski’s pole vaulting accomplishments.

Members of the committee entertained the idea of continuing as a formal group to work on other projects. It was decided the group would remain informal and gather again when members felt there was a need. They had thought of working to raise money for the McKinnon family in Fredonia, which lost two young children and their home in a tragic fire recently, but were notified the McKinnon family already feels the community is showing overwhelming support through other sources.