by Clark Brooks
The Sentinel
For Tammy Walsh’s family, remembering her means looking for ways to help others move forward.
Walsh was killed in a freak accident at Jamaica High School on Aug. 28, 2010, after a vehicle struck a guy wire attached to a utility pole. The tension from a cable connecting that pole to another about 50 yards away caused the second pole to snap, sending it behind the bleachers on the east side of the field. At the time, Walsh was the high school cheerleading coach at St. Joseph-Ogden High School.
In her memory, her family and friends created the Tammy Walsh Scholarship Fund, a scholarship designed to honor Walsh while helping graduating seniors take their next steps after high school.
“Two of my mom’s closest friends, Amanda Moose and Rachel Garrett, started the scholarship and dedicated years of their lives to keeping it going. My brother, Dalton Walsh, and I have since taken over as the organizers of the scholarship,” Tammy Walsh’s daughter, Rylee Walsh, said.
Each year, graduating seniors at St. Joseph-Ogden High School are invited to apply. Applicants submit an essay and a cover letter, with several essay prompts available. The questions focus on the kind of person each student is and the ways they contribute to their community.
The scholarship is open to students pursuing a variety of paths after graduation. Students attending college, entering a trade or technical school, or pursuing vocational training are eligible to apply.
Two $500 scholarships are awarded each year — one to a boy and one to a girl.
The first scholarships were awarded in 2011 to Whitney Stiner, Orin Allen and Suzanne Ford.
Fundraising has remained an important part of keeping the scholarship going. The organizers aim to hold a fundraiser each year, although the format and size can change.
“Our goal is to have a fundraiser every year, although the type and size of the fundraiser can vary,” Walsh said. “Our first year, we held a silent auction, which was a huge success. The last two years, we have done a mum fundraiser through Country Arbors in Urbana.”
This year’s flower fundraiser continues through Oct. 1. Orders can be picked up Sunday, Oct. 4, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Country Arbors, 1742 County Road 1400 N, just east of Urbana.
For the Walsh family, the fundraiser is about more than raising money. It is another way to keep Tammy’s memory connected to the students and community she cared about.
Walsh said she has been grateful for the community’s support of her family over the years.
“I would like to thank our community for showing up for Dalton and me over the last 16 years,” she said. “We are incredibly grateful for everyone who has donated, participated in our fundraisers, or simply supported us along the way. I know how thankful she would be that so many people have helped us continue her legacy.”
She also gave special thanks to her grandparents, Robin and Carol Gray, for their continued help.
“They do anything and everything that is asked of them and have helped Dalton and me in so many ways to make this scholarship successful.”
“We hope to continue coming up with new and exciting ways to honor our mom while raising money to help graduating seniors.”
