Announcement

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BPV recognizes scholarship winners

Posted by Steve Tappa on Jun 17 2017 at 05:00PM PDT in 2017
Bettendorf-Pleasant Valley Youth Baseball named a trio of college scholarship winners for the first time recently to mark an expansion in the program offered annually by the longtime local charitable organization.

The BPV's practice of annually awarding a $500 scholarship to the top graduate at both Bettendorf and Pleasant Valley high schools was expanded this year, with the Board of Directors voting to increase the award to $1,000 each, and a third wild-card winner added from the pool of qualified candidates to also include applicants from other schools in the area.

The minimum requirements of the scholarship remain that the applicants must have played at least six seasons in the BPV, as well as displaying great academic achievement and/or commitment to community service during their high school careers.

From this year's applicants, seven finalists were identified -- three at PV, and four at Bettendorf.

In a blind ballot by the BPV Board, with names redacted on the applications, and the BPV Secretary recusing himself to fairly administer the vote, winning the runoff at BHS was Thomas Crowley (five votes) with Nick Mulholland and Jackson Callahan receiving four votes each.

The PVHS winner was Michael Tappa (12 votes). Mulholland then beat out Callahan for the wild-card award, eight votes to five. The other finalists for the awards were Kyle Kent (BHS), Cam Peer (PVHS) and Zach Pilger (PVHS).

Five of the seven finalists have played for the BPV team sponsored by Tappa's Steakhouse, including all three winners who are current teammates in the Seniors Division.

Of the finalists, Crowley sported the best grade-point average (3.981 or 15th in the BHS graduating class). He's played 10 seasons in the BPV and is headed to Iowa State University for Engineering.

Mulholland, who has never failed to make the All-Star team in his 12 BPV seasons, compiled a 3.717 GPA and No. 77 class rank. He will attend the University of Iowa for Business Statistics with a minor in Sports Studies.

Tappa, called BPV's "Swiss Army Knife," by scholarship presenter Ron Johns, for volunteering countless hours of time in numerous roles for the BPV, plans to study Pre-Law and Sports Management at St. Ambrose. He's also a 12-year playing veteran.

All three winners also participated in varsity sports during high school, from football and track, to tennis and cross country. The BPV congratulates all three winners and is proud of the accomplishments and contributions of all seven finalists.

To apply for next year's scholarship, seniors should visit their high school counseling office or download an application form at www.eteamz.com/BPV.

The college scholarships are only part of the three-pronged mission of the BPV -- which has volunteer roots in the community dating back to the 1950s. The BPV annually offers baseball to youngsters in our community regardless of financial hardship, plus partners with the City Parks Department to continually improve the baseball facilities in the city, such as adding such amenities as scoreboards and lights.

To volunteer and help the BPV, visit the website or email bpvyouthbaseball@gmail.com. image

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