Courtney O’Bryan Memorial Scholarships Awarded
Courtney O’Bryan was a vivacious young woman, an energetic competitor and a loyal and loving friend. The 2011 Huntington High School alum will always be remembered at her alma mater, where her contagious smile and upbeat disposition left an indelible mark on everyone she came across.
A starter on the Huntington varsity girls’ soccer and basketball teams, Ms. O’Bryan displayed an aggressive style of play. Devoted to her studies, she was admired by her teachers. Her impressive intellect, magnetic personality and pleasant nature combined with a frequently hilarious sense of humor to quickly win over classmates, coaches and faculty members.
Ms. O’Bryan, who moved to Huntington from Lynbrook as a fifth grader, graduated near the top of her class and headed off to Penn State University, where she embraced campus life, participating in the school’s IFC/Panhellenic Dance Marathon, better known as THON, which raises funds to battle pediatric cancer.
THON has raised more than $114 million since 1977 for The Four Diamonds Fund at Penn State Hershey Children’s Hospital. A large chunk of the monies have been collected during so-called “canning” weekends, which see Penn State students fanning out into other cities and states to solicit donations for the THON initiative.
After visiting her family in Huntington for Thanksgiving and stopping by the Huntington High School gym to shoot baskets with her former teammates and coaches, Ms. O’Bryan returned to the Penn State campus for a week of classes.
On Friday, December 2, 2011, the Blue Devil alum was a passenger in a car on its way to Buffalo for a canning weekend to raise money for THON and pediatric cancer research. At about 8:30 p.m. the car reportedly hit an icy patch of roadway in Lewis Run in northern Pennsylvania, careening out of control, flipping over, sliding down a highway embankment and crashing into a tree.
Ms. O’Bryan, who was riding in the backseat of the 2011 Nissan Pathfinder, was mortally injured and four other students in the car were hospitalized. The accident occurred on State Road 219, about one mile south of State Route 59 according to the Pennsylvania State Police.
In the aftermath of the tragedy, Ms. O’Bryan’s family created a scholarship to perpetuate her memory and promote the qualities she so vividly displayed. The scholarship is awarded annually to one female and one male senior athlete who is college bound and who participated in more than one team sport “exemplifying character, leadership, strong school spirit and sportsmanship.”
Knowles and Weigold win O’Bryan scholarships
This year, graduating seniors Caitlin Knowles and Justin Weigold were recognized by Ms. O’Bryan’s family, which presented each of the scholar-athletes with $1,000 awards and attractive plaques at the 47th annual Blue Devil senior athletic awards dinner.
Ms. Knowles is headed to the University of Virginia. Mr. Weigold will pursue an undergraduate degree at SUNY Maritime College.
Valedictorian of Huntington’s Class of 2015, Ms. Knowles started on the varsity soccer, basketball and lacrosse teams. She was an officer in the student government, served on the Relay For Life’s planning committee and volunteered with Huntington’s Habitat for Humanity chapter.
The academic and athletic star has also found the time to shine as a musician. Ms. Knowles was the first chair trombone in the pep and concert bands. She plans to pursue a double major in environmental science and economics.
Mr. Weigold was a key player on the Blue Devil football and lacrosse teams. An active member of Young Leaders, a youth development and community service organization, the teenager also participated in Habitat for Humanity, Natural Helpers, Science Olympiad and the high school robotics club. He volunteered with Special Olympics and participated in Rotary International’s youth leadership conference. He plans to study electrical engineering.
Huntington Class of 2012 members Laurelle Byrne-Cody and John Deren McCarthy were the recipients of the first O’Bryan scholarship awards in 2012. Maggie Askerberg and Connor Birchard were honored in 2013. Joellen Ceide and Alexander Castillo were recognized last year.
“I can remember attending this same dinner with Courtney and while she did not get any big award, she reveled in the night to honor all of those involved in the Huntington sports program,” said Lisa Brigandi, Ms. O’Bryan’s mother. “That was who Courtney was. She was a cheerleader, a voice of reason, a mentor, an overachiever, a friend and mostly, that smile on the sidelines.”
Joining Ms. O’Bryan’s mother and father at the awards presentation was her classmate and teammate, Jackie Waldron. The trio took turns speaking about Ms. O’Bryan and this year’s scholarship recipients.
The hearts of her family, friends and coaches have never healed from suffering the loss of Ms. O’Bryan. But, her memory lives on through the scholarship that bears her name.