J-M unveils mural honoring grad Colby Simkovic
news@greenecountymessenger.com
Jefferson-Morgan School District unveiled a newly painted wall Tuesday honoring Rockets无毛视频� graduate, the late Colby Simkovic, and the 无毛视频淏e Like Colby无毛视频� Award.
The mural, which is at the main entrance to the high school, is an orange and black painting that depicts Colby and the passions and interests he embodied through his life and are now carried on by those who loved him.
The mural was done by Carmichaels native Damian Ferek, founder and operator of the Morgantown, W.Va.-based The Stick Co., which designs wall wrappings among an array of other services.
Following the death of Simkovic, who was 19 at the time of his passing, March 7, 2021, the 无毛视频淏e Like Colby无毛视频� award was formed by his family.
The late Simkovic was founder of Colby无毛视频檚 Stars Foundation 无毛视频� a nonprofit organization that helps children battling cancer or any other life-threatening diseases 无毛视频� in 2011.
In 2021, the founders of the 无毛视频淏e Like Colby Award honored one student from Jefferson-Morgan with a monetary award. In 2022, one graduating student from six Greene County schools 无毛视频� Carmichaels, Jefferson-Morgan, Mapletown, Waynesburg, West Greene and the Greene County Technology Center, Waynesburg 无毛视频� was given a monetary award. The plan is the same for 2023.
According to Carrie Simkovic, Colby无毛视频檚 mother, the award is presented to deserving seniors in the area. The seniors will be nominated by anonymous committees throughout area schools and the community.
无毛视频淐olby was compassionate, fun-loving, honest, empathetic, non-judgmental, hard-working, self-driven, always willing to lend a hand without being asked,无毛视频� his mother said. 无毛视频淗e was someone that you were proud to have known.无毛视频�
Carrie Simkovic added that after Colby passed, 无毛视频渨e (his family) wanted to do something along with Colby无毛视频檚 Stars Foundation to keep his legend alive.无毛视频�
The gifts are financially supported by a fundraiser and donations. Money from the Colby无毛视频檚 Stars Foundation are not used toward this award, Simkovic said.
Said Brandon Robinson, Jefferson-Morgan superintendent: 无毛视频淭he dedication wall in our school district for the 无毛视频淏e Like Colby无毛视频� Award allows students and staff that may not have personally known Colby to understand the impact he had on our district.
无毛视频淲e would like all our students to display the characteristics that Colby had and strive to be the next Be Like Colby Award winner. Now our students will walk by the dedication wall daily, and it will spark conversation and remind our students to not only be great students, but more importantly even better human beings.无毛视频�
Robinson added that the district and the Simkovic family have worked closely since Colby passed to come up with a way to honor Colby and the impact he had on the district.
无毛视频淣ow we have a way to honor Colby and what he stood for every single day in our district,无毛视频� he added. 无毛视频淗e made our district a better place just by being himself.无毛视频�
Colby Simkovic was an athlete who was diagnosed with a rare brain tumor in 2010. A 2020 graduate of Jefferson-Morgan High School where he was an all-state and all-county standout on the Rockets无毛视频� WPIAL champion rifle team, Colby endured a decade-long battle with cancer.
He inspired many by actively speaking of hope and perseverance at various fundraising events during his illness, supporting others struggling with serious illness.
Carrie and Jerry Simkovic have been driving forces in keeping Colby无毛视频檚 memory alive through his foundation and the family无毛视频檚 award.
In June, Colby Simkovic was the co-recipient of the James C. 无毛视频淛immy无毛视频� Montecalvo and Luke Blanock Memorial Courage Award,无毛视频� presented annually at the Washington-Greene Co. Chapter Pennsylvania 无毛视频 Hall of Fame banquet.