Charity raises $6K for Rougeau scholarship

For The Sentinel

CORRY -- Corry Volleyball set a big goal for its annual charity night this year, but that goal was surpassed when proceeds during the event cleared $6,000 for the Trooper Jacques "Jay" Rougeau Memorial Scholarship. That number continues to climb and now is over $7,000.

The team chooses one charity to benefit each year, and this year it was the memorial scholarship. The goal was $5,000 for the event, which took place Wednesday during a home game against the Seneca Bobcats. That goal was exceeded with the outpouring of community support in memory of Trooper Rougeau, a native of Corry, who was a member of the basketball and cross country teams as well as the president of the Class of 2012. Rougeau was killed in the line of duty on June 17 in Juniata County after being ambushed.

Establishing an ongoing scholarship requires a substantial initial investment, so when the Class of 2012 decided to start the process, the volleyball team was motivated to help get the funding campaign started.

According to Corry Volleyball Head Coach Kelly Goodsel, Jay's wife, Chloe, was a Corry volleyball player throughout middle and high school.

In 2012, her senior class of volleyball players led the team to the first District 10 playoff appearance under Goodsel's coaching. She then went on to start a volleyball program at East Juniata High School where she teaches.

"Our connection with Chloe along with the Class of 2012 initiating the scholarship gave us an ideal beneficiary for our annual charity night," said Goodsel. "The success of the Corry Volleyball program provides us with a platform and a responsibility to support and give back to the community that supports our team. The charity event and honoring Jay and Chloe was a perfect way for the team to put efforts toward a great cause.

To garner attention for the charity event, the volleyball team put out an aggressive social media campaign, sent letters and reached out to friends and family to garner support for the event.

They had two drawings, a huge lottery basket and 50/50, and collected cash donations. Custom T-shirts and jewelry were also available for sale with all proceeds benefiting the scholarship. In addition, the charity is housed through Corry Community Foundation, and the team posted QR codes so fans could donate online before, during or after the event.

"It was incredible to see the tremendous support from our community in honor of Trooper Rougeau, Chloe, and their family," said Bill West, director of secondary education at Corry Area School District, who was on hand during the event. "I truly appreciate the Corry Volleyball program organizing their annual charity night."

The school district's athletic director, Mike Daniels, also attended the event.

"Corry once again showed up to support one of their own," said Daniels. "It is great to be part of a community that is always willing to rally around those that are in need of support. I am proud of the Corry Volleyball team as they saw this opportunity and organized a great event."

The current goal for the scholarship is $15,000. The charity event helped kick start the fund, and now the team is hopeful that other individuals and groups will continue donating and possibly organizing additional events to help raise funds. Online donations can be accepted through the end of the day on Saturday, Sept. 30, at www.corrycommunityfoundation.org. Click "Give Today" then "Scholarship Funds" and "Trooper Jacques "Jay" Rougeau Memorial Scholarship."

The foundation's computer system is going through an upgrade between Oct. 1 and Oct. 21. During that time, donations can be made by mailing a check to Corry Community Foundation, 4 South Center St., Corry, PA 16407.

"This will be an ongoing scholarship, meaning that even in 25 years, a graduate will be awarded the Jay Rougeau Scholarship, and they will know what he meant to this community," said Shelby Scouten, executive assistant at Corry Community Foundation.

Scouten also noted that currently an additional $625 has been donated online in response to the volleyball team's charity event.

Corry Volleyball parent volunteer, Valerie Watrous, was a teacher at Corry when Rougeau was in high school.

"Jay was kind, funny and outgoing, always making sure others were included; the best kind of student and person," said Watrous. "His service, commitment and sacrifice as a Pennsylvania State Police Trooper is something we want to recognize, not just today or next week. The memorial scholarship creates a legacy of a man who continuously worked hard toward his goals, treated people with kindness, smiled, served others, and gave his whole heart to the people he loved."

Scholarship qualifications and distribution amounts will be set at a later time once the fund is fully established.