Huntington Public Schools, NY

August 7, 2020

Courtney O’Bryan was an exceptional young woman. Intelligent, enthusiastic, loyal and a loving friend to so many, she was cherished by everyone that knew her. The 2011 Huntington High School graduate will always be remembered at her alma mater, where her engaging smile and bubbly disposition made a lasting impression.

A starter on the Huntington varsity girls’ soccer and basketball teams, Ms. O’Bryan displayed an energetic style of play. Committed to her studies, she was admired by her teachers. Her sharp intellect, magnetic personality and easygoing nature along with a frequently hilarious sense of humor joined together to win over classmates, coaches and faculty members in short order.

Courtney O'Bryan was a member of Huntington High School's Class of 2011.

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 immersed herself in campus life, participating in the school’s IFC/Panhellenic Dance Marathon, better known as THON, which raises funds to battle pediatric cancer.

The largest student-run philanthropy in the world, THON has raised more than $178 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.

The news hit Huntington like a proverbial “punch to the gut.” In the aftermath of the tragedy, Ms. O’Bryan’s family created a scholarship to perpetuate her memory and promote the qualities she so splendidly displayed.

The Courtney O’Bryan Memorial Scholarship is awarded annually to senior male and female athletes who are college bound and who participated in more than one team sport “exemplifying character, leadership, strong school spirit and sportsmanship.”

Four Seniors Capture $3,000 in Scholarships

This year, four graduating seniors were recognized by Ms. O’Bryan’s family, which presented the teenagers with $3,000 in awards along with attractive plaques.

Alexandra Gerbavsits and Lex Colato were both presented with $1,000 scholarships. Billy Burton and Abby Maichin each captured $500 awards.

Ms. Gerbavsits plans to study nursing at Monmouth University in New Jersey. A member of both the National Honor Society and the Italian Honor Society, she was named a Distinguished Senior. The teenager starred on the Blue Devil girls’ soccer and softball teams and was president of Huntington High School’s Varsity Club.

Mr. Colato is headed to the University of Bridgeport to study nursing. He helped lead Huntington’s football and boys’ basketball teams. Well known for inspiring his teammates and for his energetic style of play, the teenager has been a mainstay of the Blue Devil athletic program, working through injuries, but never failing to suit up. He also volunteered with Young Leaders, a local youth development organization.

Ms. Maichin has been recruited by the University of Notre Dame to play on its NCAA Division I women’s lacrosse team. She is interested studying in the field of psychology with a focus on neuroscience and behavior, but said that is all subject to change. A member of the National Honor Society as well as the Spanish Honor Society, Math Honor Society, Science Honor Society and English Honor Society, she was named a Distinguished Senior. The teenager garnered All-County honors playing for the Blue Devil girls’ basketball and girls’ lacrosse teams.

Mr. Burton plans to study business/accounting at Arcadia University in Glenside, Pennsylvania where he has been recruited to play on the NCAA men’s lacrosse team. A member of the National Honor Society as well as the English Honor Society and Social Studies Honor Society, he was named a Distinguished Senior. He played outsized roles on the Blue Devil wrestling and boys’ lacrosse teams