Churchville Holds 10th Annual Marsha Amerio Scholarship Basketball Game

Story by Margaret Rask, submitted by Elmhurst Community Unit School District 205
Image via shutterstock

On October 17, the Churchville Middle School Student Council held the 10th annual Marsha Amerio Student/Faculty basketball game. Students and faculty went nose-to-nose on the basketball court as student teams rotated in to challenge their teachers. Students participated in raffles and competitions such as shooting contests that took place during intermissions throughout the evening.

Parents and families joined in the fun, to create a great evening for the Churchville community. Prior to the game, the 7th grade class held a tailgate party to prepare signs, face paint and generate excitement for the game. All proceeds from the event go to the Marsha Amerio Scholarship fund which awards seniors at York High School who have been in Special Education a scholarship to use for college or technical school.

The Marsha Amerio Scholarship was established in 2003 to commemorate the life of a remarkable woman. Marsha Amerio taught at Churchville Middle School for 28 years. She worked with students who had learning disabilities and touched everyone who knew her with her compassionate nature and giving spirit. She was Churchville’s own PollyAnna, always seeing the best in everyone, students and coworkers alike. She had many passions—she volunteered tirelessly. She loved to exercise, garden, and travel, and she was an active member of St. Peter’s Church in Elmhurst. She was a woman of great character.

Marsha’s sudden death in 2002 left Churchville with a void to fill and, as a result, the staff established a York High School college/trade school scholarship fund in her honor. The award is given to students who represent some of the qualities that were admired in Marsha. To date, Churchville has awarded $40,000 in scholarships for deserving York High School students.

The Student/Faculty basketball game is a yearly reminder to the Churchville community of the character traits so admired in Marsha Amerio. Marsha’s influence at Churchville is such that 7th Grade student Emily Belcher decided to write her English biography assignment about Mrs. Amerio’s life. Emily highlighted Marsha’s leadership skills, her dedication to her students and her enthusiastic volunteering within Churchville and the Elmhurst community. Emily’s biography was shared with Marsha’s family last year and inspired them to make a generous donation to the scholarship fund.