Smalling & Addeo Capture Courtney O’Bryan Scholarships

Courtney O’Bryan was a charismatic young woman with a magnetic personality. Super smart, energetic and loyal, she was a kind and considerate friend to so many. She was loved by everyone that knew her.

The 2011 Huntington High School graduate will always be remembered at her alma mater, where her contagious smile and happy personality made a lasting impression.

A starter on the Blue Devil varsity girls’ soccer and basketball teams, Ms. O’Bryan employed a take-no-prisoners tyle of play. Devoted to her studies, she was admired and respected by the high school’s faculty. Her intellect, engaging personality and easygoing nature along with an sometimes hilarious sense of humor came together to win over classmates, coaches and teachers.

Ms. O’Bryan, who moved to Huntington from Lynbrook as a fifth grader, graduated near the top of her class and enrolled in 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.

The largest student-run philanthropy in the world, THON has raised more than $236 million since 1977 for The Four Diamonds Fund at Penn State Hershey Children’s Hospital. A large percentage 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 at 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 fatally 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 gut punch. In the aftermath of the tragedy, Ms. O’Bryan’s family created a scholarship to perpetuate her memory and promote the qualities she so spectacularly 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.”

Two Seniors Capture Scholarships

This year, graduating seniors Kaylee Smalling and Anthony Addeo were chosen by Ms. O’Bryan’s parents, Bill and Lisa and family members as the recipients of twin $500 scholarship awards along with attractive plaques.

Mr. O’Bryan was on hand at the 57th Blue Devil senior athletic awards ceremony in the high school auditorium to announce Ms. Smalling and Mr. Addeo as this year’s scholarship winners.

Both of the teenagers were named Distinguished Seniors after compiling academic grade averages in excess of 90 during every semester of high school.

Huntington coaches submitted 22 separate nominations for this year’s scholarships. The award is annually held in high esteem.

Ms. Smalling intends to study physical education and health at SUNY Cortland. She played on Huntington’s soccer, softball, basketball and flag football teams and won a Section XI Gold Key Award. “Support from family, friends and teachers has played a central role in staying motivated and achieving success,” she said. “Knowing that encouragement is always there makes it easier to keep going and give each challenge full effort. One of the most meaningful parts of high school has been wearing a Blue Devil jersey. It represents much more than participating in sports; it symbolizes being part of a family and building some of the best friendships and memories.”

Mr. Addeo plans to study finance at the University of South Carolina. He played on the Huntington golf and baseball teams. “The key to my success has been studying hard and always putting maximum effort into my coursework,” Mr. Addeo said. “With the support of my family, friends and teachers, I was able to truly excel in school. I’ve especially enjoyed my experience with high school sports and extracurricular activities, like baseball and golf. Being a member of these varsity teams is something I will carry with me for the rest of my life. Outside of sports, I am proud to have helped start the high school Blutique and Blue Market. (The initiative is a community-driven effort to provide essential resources to students, helping ensure they have the support they need to succeed in school.)”