2011 COLUMBIA 300 JOHN JOWDY SCHOLARSHIP AWARDED TO ILLINOIS SENIOR
July 14, 2011
HOPKINSVILLE, KY - COLUMBIA 300 is pleased to announce Ryan Miller as the 2011 recipient of the John Jowdy Scholarship. Ryan is a recent graduate of Harlem Senior High School in Machesney, Illinois. He is the son of Darren and Catrina Miller of Loves Park, Illinois.
Ryan’s selection as the recipient of the 2011 award is because of his work on and off the lanes. Ryan has been committed to academics and community service throughout his high school career. He boasts a 4.154 grade point average, on a 4.0 scale, and earned his National Honor Society honors in November 2009. He remained on the 4.0 honor roll at Harlem High School every semester, freshman through senior year. He was named a United States All-American Scholar in 2008/2009 and he was named an Illinois State Scholar in 2010. Additionally, Ryan received the US Achievement Academy National Leadership Award in 2010/2011 and was honored as a Harlem High School Scholar Athlete in 2010 and 2011.
Ryan’s community service is most impressive. In his application essay, he talked about philanthropy and how much he has learned about community giving through his volunteer involvement with the Community Foundation of Northern Illinois. Ryan’s involvement with the Community Foundation is highlighted by his early grant work to develop magic workshops for young children and his current role as the Grants Officer and serving on the Executive Committee for the full foundation council.
Ryan has excelled in Illinois high school bowling. He has consistently remained a top competitor in IHSA events and in Illinois state-wide competitions. He was awarded NIC 10 All Conference honors in 2011 and was all conference honorable mention in 2010. Ryan was honored as the recipient of the 2010 Chuck Pezzano Scholarship and in 2011 he was awarded the Northern Illinois Bowling Proprietors Association Youth Scholarship. Recently, Ryan was also named to the 2010-2011 Dexter/USBC High School All-American Team.
When asked to comment on being awarded the 2011 John Jowdy Scholarship, Ryan stated, “It is a tremendous honor to be the recipient of this year’s John Jowdy Scholarship Fund. I have worked especially hard during high school with bowling, academics, and community service, and it is very exciting to see all my efforts being rewarded.”
In the Fall of 2011, Ryan will attend Mount Mercy University in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. He was recruited and extended a scholarship and will help the Mustangs establish success in their inaugural bowling season.
Scholarship History
The Columbia 300 John Jowdy Scholarship has been awarded to high school seniors since 1990. The program awards $2,000 in scholarship money over 4 years of post-secondary educational enrollment. Past recipients of the scholarship are:
1990—David Nagelhaut, New Jersey
1991—Laura Ross, New Jersey
1992—Michael Mullin, New York
1993—Marjorie Tassone, Arizona
1994—Mark Martin, Oregon
1995—Kevin Winter, Washington
1996—Nicholas Hoagland, Ohio
1997—Michael Pretko, Michigan
1998—Timothy Frank, Illinois
1999—Amanda Fritsche, Texas
2000—Scott Norton (California) and Robby Spigner (Illinois)
2001—Craig Brown, Ohio
2002—Amanda Pezzano, New Jersey
2003—Nicholas Kallner, New York
2004—Adam Keesling, Kansas
2005—Rachelle Davis, Arizona
2006—Tyler Barker, Utah
2007—Natalie Cortese, Illinois
2008/2009 - Gregory Pizl, II
2010 – Alexis Ijams
John Jowdy was inducted into the PBA Hall of Fame in 1988 and the American Bowling Congress Hall of Fame in 2001 for meritorious service to the game. He has been an instructor to many PBA champions and hundreds of others, a Columbia 300 sales representative and a bowling writer. Easily identifiable at PBA Tour sites, he has attended more PBA tournaments than all but a few players and PBA staff members. The San Antonio native has provided coverage of the Tour to many of the nation’s leading bowling publications, including Bowling Digest.
“The quality of applicants we have received over the past few years has been outstanding. I am pleased that Ryan has been selected to be this year’s recipient. He has showed great drive in the classroom, in the community, and on the lanes. He will represent this award honorably,” said John Jowdy.
— Columbia 300 Bowling Balls & Bowling Equipment - Based in Hopkinsville, Ky., Columbia 300 is a long-time power brand servicing the bowling world with quality and professional products. Its parent company, Ebonite International, Inc., is a privately-owned company that services bowling centers, distributors and retail outlets both domestically and internationally. The company’s other consumer product brands include Ebonite,Hammer,Track, Robby’s, and Powerhouse™; its commercial product brand is Ebonite Bowling Center Direct.
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