In alignment with Corey’s character and community impact, and made possible by the generous contributions of family, friends, and members of the local, community, the nineth annual Hoody Memorial Scholarship has been awarded to Lakota West Senior, Joshua Allen.

Joshua, son of Janene and Michael Allen, exemplifies the characteristics we search for in a recipient of the Hoody Memorial Scholarship. He shows his leadership and commitment to excellence through all of his actions – whether in the classroom, on the wrestling mat or interacting with his peers.

As described by Scott Fetzer, Joshua’s wrestling coach, “Josh has a soft side but also has that grit, tenacity, focus and toughness. To be honest, he reminds me of Corey.”

As described by Matt Massey, Pastor at Vineyards Cincinnati Church, “In regards to tenacity and grit, I’ve never met a young man with as much grit and guts as he has. The young man never quits.”

This fall, Joshua will be attending Ohio State University with a focus on Biomedical Engineering. After obtaining his undergraduate degree, he plans to either go to Medical School or go into the field as an engineer while continuing to “pay it forward.”

In his own words…

“I feel honored and grateful. This scholarship in particular means a lot to me. I have multiple coaches and teachers who were close with Hoody. Hearing about his story and who he truly was as a man had been inspiring. I have learned how he carried a presence that made everyone feel safe and connected. He was not clicky and loved to include everyone. The qualities that he displayed has been important to me because of how much I relate to them. In a different time and place, I feel that we would connect in many ways.”