Scholarship Honoring Hopatcong Grad Looks for Boost

The Michael Wills Memorial Scholarship Fund has been around since 2007. But that's not long enough for Michael's father.

"It is very important to us to make sure it exists for a long time," Dan Wills Sr. said on Monday night. "That's how Michael would have wanted it."

Michael Wills was diagnosed with muscular dystrophy, or rapid muscle degeneration, at age 5. The Hopatcong resident died at age 23 in 2006.

After years of funding through donations, the scholarship's founders hope they've found another route. So, proceeds from the at the Minebrook Golf Club in Hackettstown on June 17 will boost the fund.

The tournament will feature a scramble tournament and a shotgun start a 9 a.m. It'll be $120 per person and $480 per foursome. Those interested can contact Dominick Algeria at (201) 638-3474 or Joe Anthes at (201) 841-2152. 

Dan Wills Sr. said he didn't want the scholarship to serve just as a memory to his son, who also earned an associate's degree from the County College of Morris despite his disability. Instead, Dan Wills Sr. said he wanted it to serve a purpose.

"We want to help the way people helped us with Michael," he said.

The father said his son "had a unique sense of humor."

"Always positive," Dan Wills Sr. said. "He never let people know if something was bugging him. He'd always be 'up.'"

The scholarship is available to Hopatcong High School students.

Past recipients

Chistina Skowronski 2007

Brenda Fuentes 2008

John Berardi 2009

Matthew Guglielmello 2010