Julie Martin Scholarship Awarded to St. John

Isaac St. John (middle) poses with the Martin family after being awarded the Julie Martin Memorial Scholarship Thursday night.

9/6/2006

LIVONIA, Mich. -- In what has become the annual kick off to the Julie Martin Memorial volleyball tournament weekend, the MU athletics department held the annual memorial scholarship dinner Thursday night.  For the second year a scholarship in Julie's memory was awarded to a Madonna student athlete, this time to Isaac St. John, a sophomore men's soccer player.

Heather Spooner, the 2006 scholarship recipient, made the announcement to those in attendance, which included the Martin family and several key donors to the cause.  She talked about Isaac as a young man of character, something that was integral in the legacy of Julie Martin.

"I have had the chance to sit and talk with Issac, and I think he is the perfect student-athlete to carry on Julie's legacy this year," Spooner said.  "He is a man of character, a great teammate, and more importantly a kind spirit, just the way Julie was."

St. John was overwhelmed by the moment when accepting the scholarship in front of a packed house in the MU Banquet Hall.

"I have thought for the last week about what I should say here tonight and have written this speech three of four times, but the words never seem to be enough to express my gratitude and the magnitude of what this means to me," St. John stated.  "I want to thank the Martin family for their hard work and dedication to establishing this award in their daughters honor.  I want to thank them and the selection committee for picking me to receive this award. And I want to let you know that I pledge to live up to the example your daughter set forth and carry myself in a way to make you all proud."

The scholarship, named in honor of Martin, a former Madonna All-American volleyball player and graduate who died of Cancer in 2000 was endowed after the 2005 dinner will be awarded annually to a student-athlete who exhibits the characteristics of the late volleyball star.  The scholarship will be awarded annually as part of the Julie Martin scholarship dinner held on the eve of the annual tournament.

For information on how you can contribute to the Julie Martin memorial scholarship fund, contact the athletic department at (734) 432-5608.

Contact:
Matt Fancett, Assistant AD - Media Relations
(734) 432-5610
mfancett@madonna.edu