Derek Sheely Award, Scholarship, and Race

GERMANTOWN, Md. - May 4, 2013 - PRLog -- The 2013 Derek Thomson Sheely Leadership Award and Scholarship was presented to Janelle Walbert during a ceremony at Frostburg State University on May 2, 2013. This prestigious award recognizes excellence in the classroom and in the community. The award is named after Derek Sheely, an honor student and football captain from Germantown, Maryland who graduated from Northwest High School. In August 2011, Derek suffered a brain injury during football practice at Frostburg State University and did not recover. Derek’s family and friends established THE DEREK SHEELY FOUNDATION to increase concussion awareness, with a focus on youth sports. Two of the foundation’s major annual events are the award/scholarship at Frostburg in May and a run/walk in Germantown on June 8.

Derek was a remarkable leader and the award honors his spirit of genuine concern for others.  Derek was a leader who didn’t seek the spotlight but rather sought to help others achieve their full potential. The award is presented to the junior at Frostburg State University, with a grade point average of 3.40 or above, who best exemplifies the qualities of leadership that Derek demonstrated. The award includes a $2,000 scholarship and the requirement for 40 hours of community service to increase concussion awareness.

This year’s winner, Janelle Walbert, has a cumulative GPA of 4.0, is a member of the National Society of Leadership and Success, participated in the Sloop Institute for Excellence in Leadership, raised funds for the Relay for Life, and is the President of the Pre-Professional Medical Society. In her essay for the Award, she wrote: “Being President has…taught me how tough it is to be a leader…but how rewarding it is in the end.”

During the ceremony, Kristen Sheely of Germantown (Derek’s mother and the Executive Director of THE DEREK SHEELY FOUNDATION) presented a check for $40,000 to Frostburg State University to fully endow Derek’s leadership award and scholarship for the future.

On Saturday June 8, 2013, the foundation will host the second annual Derek Sheely Lead the Way 4.0-mile run and 1-mile walk. The run and the walk start at Northwest High School in Germantown, Maryland at 8 am. The event features a unique stadium start and finish with a DJ playing music. All run and walk finishers will receive medals. Participants will receive free food, drinks, goody bags, and be eligible for nearly $4,000 in door prizes. You can register for the run and walk at the foundation’s website at http://www.TheDerekSheelyFoundation.org.