Stillwater Area High School senior Ian Hanlon was awarded the ninth annual Ponies Touchdown Club Scholarship. The award ceremony was canceled again due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Nevertheless, the plaque will be delivered to Hanlon and his name will be engraved on a plaque which hangs in the athletic hallway. Previous recipients include Aaron Romportl (2013), Jake Olson (2014), Nick Johnson (2015), Kevin Jones (2016 four-year) and Josh Wille (2016 two-year), Ben Peterson (2017), Charlie Richman (2018 four-year) and Carl Tomlinson (2018 two-year), Will Gleason (2019), and Trey Kruse (2020). In nine years, the PTC has awarded $11,000 to college-bound alumni.

The Ponies Touchdown Club Scholarship, created in 2012, recognizes superior, holistic achievement as a student-athlete with special emphasis placed on contribution to the Stillwater Ponies football program.

First, the student-athlete is regarded as someone who invested thoroughly in academics, athletics and activities, and community service.  The recipient is well-rounded, gained a diverse, co-curricular education. The recipient shares their time and talent generously and believes “giving is receiving.”

Second, the student-athlete made a significant impact on the football program while using the experience to become a better person. The player promoted, influenced, and furthered the objectives of the program, which includes having fun; growing as a person; representing our school and community with class; and helping us become the best team possible. The Ponies Touchdown Club Scholarship recipient is an ideal representative of the Stillwater Ponies football program.

“We always have great applicants, but it likely comes as no surprise that Ian ran away with this scholarship,” Head Coach Beau LaBore said. “He had the most challenging course load and was nearly perfect throughout. Furthermore, he was a dominant cornerback who transformed his skillset between the 2019 and 2020 season.

Hanlon, who earned Academic All State honors, was a defensive leader on the Ponies team that won the Metro East Championship.

In Hanlon’s reflection, he stated, “Life is going to present challenges just like football; developing resilience will help to adapt, overcome, and thrive in any situation. Something that comes with being resilient is also being able to properly listen and learn from your own failures. I’ve noticed that every great leader, coach, and person is amazing at listening to others and keeping an open mind. This includes being a lifelong learner. There will always be things in my life that can be improved upon and learned. One who is not seeking to always be learning and improving will not succeed in the long run.”

Hanlon will use the scholarship at the University of Minnesota to study marketing and psychology.

Senior Captain Michael Cowley, who will attend University of Minnesota-Duluth to study mechanical engineering, joined Hanlon as recipients of the seventh annual Richard (Dick) N. Olsen Memorial Scholarship to honor his extensive contributions to the SCVAA and St. Croix Valley.

Other recipients include Josh Godbout, Jake Simcik, Jackson Dunleap, Tommy De St. Aubin, Zach Cowley and Holten King, and in 2020 Nate Simcik, Nick Simcik, and Andrew Langenberger. This memorial scholarship seeks to award student-athletes who contributed to Stillwater football, volunteered in the community, contributed positively to their faith community, and worked to the best of their abilities in the academic setting.

Many senior year service activities were canceled due to the pandemic. However, as Juniors, these young men served by visiting elderly, Feed My Starving Children, Pony Youth Camp, VAA Football, and adaptive athletics. They each volunteered through their church and other community programs as well. Volunteerism was a significant part of Olsen’s life.

“Not only did Hanlon and Cowley lead us on the field, they were eager to assist teammates, coaches, and others in need,” said Head Football Coach Beau LaBore. “These two young men will do great things with this scholarship money.”

Other Ponies football players earning scholarships include Erick Roettger and Jake Ulrich.