Elwood's New Soccer Scoreboard Named in Remembrance of Sean Urda

The Elwood Union Free School District gathered on the Elwood-John H. Glenn High School varsity soccer field on Oct. 14 for a special scoreboard dedication ceremony in remembrance of student Sean Urda.

Sean passed away in Jan. 2015 in a snow tubing accident; a tragedy that deeply impacted the Elwood community. The Urda family donated a new soccer scoreboard in Sean’s name to give back to the school for their support and honor their son’s life as a passionate soccer player and Elwood Knight. The ceremony date provided a significant meaning, as number 14 was Sean’s soccer number.

Surrounded by teammates, teachers, administrators, coaches and student athletes, Sean’s mother, Nicole Urda, and father, Gary Urda, sat in the front row while varsity soccer coach Mr. Louis Hanner and Superintendent of Schools Dr. Kenneth Bossert addressed the crowd.

“I was not fortunate enough to know Sean, but I have heard him discussed and described many times as a role model,” said Dr. Bossert. “Those are the words that I want you to keep in mind when you think about him and when you try to act as a role model and set a positive example for your friends, teammates and opponents.”

Before the ribbon cutting, Mr. Urda spoke about his son’s love for soccer and the relationships he built.

“To Sean, soccer was more than just a game,” Mr. Urda said. “It was his passion and the Knights and his high school classmates were more than just his team and his friends…they were his family.”

Captains of the varsity boys soccer team presented Mrs. Urda with flowers, and Sean’s younger brother Luke, a student at Elwood Middle School and student-athlete himself, had the honor of cutting the blue ribbon.

Story by Syntax, Photos courtesy of the Elwood Union Free School District:

1. Sean Urda’s parents, Gary and Nicole Urda, with their son’s soccer jersey presenting the new scoreboard in his name on Oct. 14.
2. Elwood-John H. Glenn High School varsity boys soccer coach Louis Hanner thanked the Urda family and a number of individuals for making the new Sean Urda scoreboard a reality on Oct. 14.
3. Gary Urda spoke about his late son’s passion for soccer and his love for the Elwood community during the scoreboard ceremony to remember the beloved player on Oct. 14.
4. Varsity boys soccer coach Louis Hanner embraced Gary Urda during the scoreboard ceremony to honor Sean Urda.
5. Sean Urda’s brother Luke gave his family a hug after cutting the blue ribbon during the special scoreboard ceremony on Oct. 14.
6. The Elwood community showed their support during the ceremony and the Elwood girls soccer team gave Mrs. Urda handmade cards as a thank you.
7. The Urda Family donated a new soccer scoreboard to give back to the Elwood school community and serve as a remembrance for their late son Sean Urda.