When you speak to people who knew Carrie Colglazier, you encounter a recurring theme…she was a person of remarkable character. Carrie attended HSE and was involved in a variety of activities including soccer, track, the FFA and the National Honor Society. She excelled in all these areas and won many accolades including All State student athlete honors in both soccer and track in addition to being recognized on the HSE wall of fame.
At first glance this could describe thousands of high school students across the country, but what really set Carrie apart was her work ethic and sense of community. When most high school students are naturally living in a more self-centered stage of their life, Carrie was thinking about service and community. This nature was reflected by her chosen course of study at Butler University which was the physician assistant program. She had a driving force and a maturity beyond her years that allowed her to gain satisfaction and a sense of purpose through helping others.
On June 6, 2003 the summer after her freshman year at Butler University, Carrie was at a stoplight when circumstances turned for the worst. An intoxicated driver turned into the path of Carrie and another Butler student which unfortunately ended their lives. Greg Davidson, a trusted family friend and mentor to Carrie, remembers the call he received at 3am that morning. As he describes the conversation, which is a little too personal to share, I experience a tingling in my spine due to the gravity of his description. This involuntary response happens again minutes later as he describes the honor of being asked to speak at her funeral which simultaneously he describes as one of the most difficult tasks in his life.
As you can imagine, a tragedy like this has a lasting effect on the entire community. In an effort to manage grief and develop something positive out of this extremely difficult situation a few things started to occur:
- Carrie’s parents made a simple request that in lieu of flowers that people donate to a scholarship fund in Carrie’s name.
- The Hamilton Southeastern School Foundation offered assistance with the development of what is now called the Carrie Colglazier Memorial Scholarship.
- Jim Self, co athletic director at Hamilton Southeastern, called a meeting in his office that included Greg Davidson, Jennifer Jacobs, Julie Alano, Jennifer Hill and Tom Younts. It was in this meeting that the idea of a workday was conceived.
In honor of Carrie’s defining commitment to service, each year the students at HSE participate in a work day that helps generate money to fund Carrie’s scholarship. The students volunteer to work the better part of a Saturday (8:00am – 4:00pm) in the local community. This year the workday will take place on Saturday, March 23rd, 2013. Community residents and businesses are asked to “hire” these workers for a minimum donation of $25 per worker for the day with all funds going directly to the scholarship. In the past, students have completed a variety of tasks including: mulching, cleaning houses, painting, babysitting etc.
The annual meeting for soccer call outs in February always includes time dedicated to inform players about the program. “We intentionally have a light off season but I specifically ask every girl to reserve one day to put aside all other activities and commitments and participate in this event” said Greg Davidson, head girls varsity soccer coach for the past 14 years. That is why the activity typically gets a 99% participation rate from the current students. If you or your business would like to participate in this program, please email Jennifer Jacobs at jjacobs@hse.k12.in.us or Leah Ann Self at self4royals@aol.com . In the interest of safety, it is recommended that you “hire” at least 2 students so that they can complete the work in pairs. For more information you can visit Carrie’s website at www.carriecolglazier.org.
The current amount of the scholarship equates to $12,000 over a four year period. In order to be considered for the scholarship, the applicant is required to participate in the workday. In a tradition that has developed over the years, previous scholarship winners participate in the workday by visiting the Colgalzier’s house and assisting Bud and Karen Colglazier with various tasks.
Although this particular scholarship is only available to current students that show the same interest in activities that Carrie enjoyed (specifically soccer, track, the FFA and the National Honors Society), the Hamilton Southeastern Schools Foundation does offer various other scholarships. The deadline for Carrie’s scholarship and many others offered by HSSF is quickly approaching in late March or early April. You can find information on all HSSF scholarships (click here).
The Carrie Colglazier Memorial Scholarship is currently in its 10th year of existence and has helped nine deserving winners fund the next stage of their learning. This year’s recipient will be announced at the Senior Awards Night in May.
To The Parents of Carrie Colglazier: Most of us cannot begin to understand your loss but we are thankful for your strength and helping something positive develop from this situation.
To The Community: You have an opportunity to become part of something truly good in nature…send your request for workers today or donate directly by mailing a check to the Hamilton Southeastern Schools Foundation with “Carrie Colglazier Scholarship” in the memo line.
Previous Winners Highlighted in a box somewhere:
- 2003/2004: Emily Ax
- 2004/2005: Auna Murphy
- 2005/2006: Chad Zagar
- 2006/2007: Erin Duffey
- 2007/2008: Christina Cook
- 2008/2009: Maria Lunik
- 2009/2010: Patrick Robinson
- 2010/2011: Emily Wikle
- 2011/2012: Jordan Tatom
