At last night’s Stillwater Community Scholarship Awards Banquet for graduating seniors, the Ponies Touchdown Club announced that graduating seniors Kevin Jones and Joshua Wille would each receive scholarships worth $1,000 toward their college tuition.  This is the fourth year that the PTC has awarded a scholarship, and the first year of awarding separate scholarships for students entering two-year and four-year post-secondary tracks.

The scholarship recipients are chosen on a competitive basis.  Winners are the senior student-athletes who are highly regarded for their academic achievements and community volunteerism, and whose personal example reflects the highest standards for the Ponies football program.    

“This was the largest, most competitive pool of applicants we’ve had to date,” said Ponies Football Head Coach Beau LaBore, noting that nearly 20 graduating seniors applied for the two scholarships.  “Kevin and Josh should be especially proud to receive this scholarship.”

Jones, who played cornerback for the 2016 Ponies, was named the Most Improved Defensive Player after the football season.  He has two varsity football and three academic letters, posting a 3.8 (non weighted) grade point average while taking eight AP courses.  Since his freshman year, Jones has completed 50 hours of community service and 273 hours of work experience.  He will attend the University of Wisconsin at Madison, with academic interests in molecular biology, biochemistry and economics. 

“One of the things that Coach LaBore said when I moved from sophomore [team] to varsity was that as long as we wear Stillwater uniforms, we are representatives of our high school on and off the field,” said Jones in his application statement.  “As a part of the Stillwater football team I have learned that it takes hard work and selflessness to be a good representative of the communities I stand for.  These values have become a part of who I am, reflecting how I approach things in my life apart from football…”

Wille, an offensive lineman for the 2016 Ponies, is a two-year letter-winner in varsity football, and a three-year letter-winner in weight-lifting and in trap-shooting, where he serves as a squad leader.  He has performed over 300 hours of community service and 150 hours of work experience over his high school career.  Wille will attend Vermillion Community College in Ely, MN, to study Fisheries and Wildlife Management, and Environmental Science.

“I will hold my memories of nursing home visits, food drives and the Special Olympics with me for the rest of my life, and continue this tradition of serving on my own now,” said Wille in his application statement.  “My teammates in third grade became my friends and are still my teammates and friends now.  The bond that I have created with those guys will never go away.”

As much as the end of a football season is a bittersweet time for a football coach who must say goodbye to his seniors, LaBore had a chance to say ‘goodbye’ to several graduating Ponies last night. Eight players and one manager earned scholarships. Below are those recipients:

DiaSorin Scholarship: Kevin Jones and Kjell Sandstrom

Robert L. Miller Memorial Scholarship: Wyatt Miller

Minnesota Deer Hunters Association - St. Croix Valley Chapter Scholarship: Josh Wille

Richard N. (Dick) Olsen Memorial Scholarship: Jake Simcik

Paraprofessional Organization Scholarship: Sam Balfanz

Ponies Touchdown Club Scholarships: Kevin Jones (four year college) and Josh Wille (two year college)

Scandia Marine Lions Club Scholarship: Kevin Jones

Stillwater Masonic Scholarship: Zach Kelly-Delorme

Tozer Scholarship: Sam Balfanz and Kevin Jones

Trinity Lutheran Church Scholarship: Dan Ehret

Yellow Ribbon Alliance Lower St. Croix Valley Scholarship: Sam Balfanz and Riley Yeary

Jones and Wille will have their names engraved on the PTC Scholarship winners plaque that hangs outside the Ponies locker room.