In the words of past Mansfield Rotary Club member Brigadier Bill McGowan, “Real courage pits a solitary figure against the world, and real heroes are most times nameless.”
That quote was shared by Mike Casto, chairman of the Rotary McGowan Courage Award Committee, Tuesday morning and set the tone for the 47th annual Mansfield Rotary McGowan Courage Awards, in which nine area high school students were recognized for their courage and tenacity in the face of adversity.
Casto said, “The McGowan Courage Award, I think, is best described as the heart and soul of the Mansfield Rotary Club and fulfills our motto of ‘service above self.’”
The award was first presented in 1968 by McGowan, who was commander of the Mansfield Salvation Army Post, and Rotarian Bob Glass. Together, they came up with the concept to “recognize students, not for academics, not for athletics, but for overcoming adversity and for courage,” Casto explained.
“McGowan’s goal,” Casto said, “and the goal and purpose of the Rotary McGowan Courage Award, is to foster and encourage scholastic responsibility by recognizing and rewarding those students, those ‘nameless heroes,’ from our local schools who have manifested courage, tenacity, and fortitude in their lives in the face of personal adversity and difficulty.”
Since the award’s inception, over 270 students in the community have received the award.
This year’s award recipients include Tim Gesouras of Lexington High School, Mariah Gorrell of St. Peter’s High School, Hannah Hawkins of Crestview High School, Nathaniel (Nate) Holvey of Mansfield Christian School, Eric (Ricky) Hoover of Madison High School, Ma’ Tia Porter of Mansfield Senior High School, Nathan (Chance) Smith of Ontario High School, Jacob Stolsmark of Lucas High School, and Phyllis (Ashley) Wurth of Clear Fork Valley High School.
(See students’ individual stories in attached article at left.)
Each recipient received an education fund award of $1,000, a $100 savings certificate from Richland Bank, a tuition credit voucher for three credit hours at North Central State College, a proclamation issued by the Richland County Board of Commissioners, a commemorative plaque from the Mansfield Rotary Club, an American flag flown over the U.S. Capitol building, and recognition certificates from Mansfield Mayor Tim Theaker and Congressmen Bob Gibbs and Pat Tiberi.
Further, the students were praised by their educators who shared how they’ve witnessed the student triumph over adversity.
Whether it’s dealing with a developmental disorder like Autism, or facing the loss of a loved one, each student has demonstrated courageous behaviors and attitudes towards the struggles in their lives, and, therefore, has rightly earned the McGowan Courage Award.
Using a baseball analogy, Congressman Tiberi expressed to the students how each of them has achieved in overcoming hardships: “When you step up to the batter’s box, the ball isn’t always pitched right down the middle of the plate. In fact a lot of times you get a curveball,” he said. “If you hit a curveball, that’s pretty impressive, but more impressive than hitting a curveball is stepping up in the batter’s box and trying to hit the curveball.”
He went on to say that each of them has not shirked from stepping up to the plate; rather, “You all today have engaged; you have engaged even though it may have been easier to not engage…You inspire us and you give us great hope.”
“You all today have engaged; you have engaged even though it may have been easier to not engage…You inspire us and you give us great hope,” said Rep. Pat Tiberi.
