Scott Wade Memorial Scholarship

Park Ridge Soccer awards four scholarships each year to honor the memory of Scott Wade.  They are awarded to graduating High School Seniors who plan to go on to college.  

Scott was a graduate of Maine South who was involved in soccer at many levels.  He participated in youth soccer, varsity soccer at Maine South and college soccer at St. Olaf College in Minnesota.  He also became involved as a soccer referee.   When Scott came back home from college for summer breaks he officiated youth soccer games for Park Ridge Soccer.  While officiating a youth soccer game on June 17, 1996 in Park Ridge for Park Ridge Soccer he was tragically struck by lightening and killed.  That tragedy, in part, lead to Park Ridge Soccer and other Park Ridge Park District affiliates to contribute to the purchase and installation of the Thor Guard Lightening Prediction System which is used today in Park Ridge.

Shortly after Scott died Park Ridge Soccer approached the Wade family about the idea of honoring the memory of Scott Wade with scholarships to graduating seniors that have been involved in soccer in any way during high school.   They agreed and the scholarships were initiated.  At first there were three scholarships per year at $750 each.  In 2007 the board of directors of PRS voted to increase the number of scholarships to four and to increase the award amount to $1250.  The money for the awards is derived from proceeds from the Annual Park Ridge Memorial Day Tournament and donations. 

Criteria for the Scott Wade Memorial Scholarship award

This is award given to four graduating high school seniors each year.  Winners in the past have come from multiple local high schools such as Maine South, Maine East, St. Ignatius, Resurrection, Loyola and Notre Dame.

The requirements for consideration are
1) That the candidate has participated in soccer (at any level in any way) while in high school.
2) The candidate must live in the geographic boundaries of District 64 or have gone to elementary school within those boundaries.
3) They must graduate in good standing in June of the year of the award
4) Finally each applicant must prepare an essay to be judged in the top four by the Board Members of PRS.  The subject of the essay is “How your participation in youth soccer affected other aspects of your life; such as academics, character, leadership or even ability to work with others.