Memorial Camp Scholarship Fund Established In Honor Of Former Eagle Randall Slown
Memorial Fund Passes $13,000
June 22, 2010
Saunemin Grade School Athletic Director and boys basketball coach Mike Stoecklin announced today that following the passing of one of his former players, Randall Slown, that a memorial camp scholarship fund is going to be established in his name, utilizing memorial funds that had been provided in his name, along with funding from two other events that he enjoyed being a part of.
‘Randall had become an important part of our everyday life following his departure from SGS and into Pontiac High School. He enjoyed the game of basketball, playing 4 years here and then 2 more at PTHS. He also enjoyed working with our kids this past year during our season. One of his most enjoyable experiences each summer was going to the Illinois Wesleyan University Day Camp which is held each year in June. So with that in mind, it is both with a heavy heart and much happiness to announce that we are creating the Randall Slown Memorial Camp Scholarship Fund, that we will use to send campers to the IWU camp each summer,’ Stoecklin announced.
The decision to utilize memorial funds made in Randall’s honor was made following a discussion with his parents about how those funds could be used. ‘Randall’s parents are very pleased with what we are doing, knowing their son would appreciate being able to give other youngsters similar opportunities that were given to him,’ said Stoecklin. Along with the memorials, plans are to match those funds through the local summer basketball camps and through the I-55 Jr. High Shootouts which bring schools from across the state to the IWU campus each year, giving them the opportunity to play at one of the premier DIII university facilities in the nation. ‘Randall not only participated in our camps, but worked them following his departure from Jr. High. Along with the IWU camps, it was one of the highlights of his summer. He also had the opportunity to play twice at the Shirk Center while in Jr. High, leading our teams to wins each time. The last two years, he was able to help organize and work at the Shootouts and enjoyed that time as well,’ Stoecklin added.
Stoecklin said that the family and his coaching staff will continue the process of evaluating the program and determining its parameters. The first camper to benefit from the memorials, which sparked the scholarship idea, is Tanner Walls of Pontiac, who grew close to Slown this past basketball season. A specific memorial had been given to the family with the intent of sending Walls to the IWU camp in Slown’s name, due to the relationship the two had developed during Walls’ first season of playing basketball for Saunemin. Walls has been attending the IWU Day Camp this week.
Memorials made thus far, along with committed matching funds have already pushed the fund to over $8000, and it is expected to continue to grow.
Those wishing to make memorial contributions to the fund can still do so by sending it to the Randall Slown Memorial Camp Scholarship Fund, c/o Saunemin Grade School, PO Box 290, Saunemin, IL 61769.
