Plainfield Central High School’s Bailey Wysocki and Plainfield North’s Jake Ready are the 2011 SPC Report Student-Athlete Scholarship Award winners.

They will each receive a $500 scholarship award toward furthering their education.

“While it’s been a pleasure watching all of the applicants compete in high school athletics over the years, it’s even better to know all of them are so outgoing and positive forces in their schools and communities,” SPC Report Inc. president Dennis Nelson said. “It was a difficult decision to select just one male and female winner because all of the applicants possess the many attributes it takes to be a true student-athlete.”

Wysocki earned varsity letters in golf, basketball, soccer and track during her four-year career at Plainfield Central.

Besides being ranked among the top six percent in her class, Wysocki was a boys basketball manager, a member of the National Honor Society, the Wildcat Athletic Leadership Club, involved in Physical Education Leadership Training, the Choir, Madrigals, Solo/Ensemble Contest and a National Anthem Soloist.

A member of the Galaxy Soccer Club, Wysocki is a Plainfield Park District lifeguard and swim instructor.

The Illinois State Scholar and high honor roll recipient was an officer in the National Honor Society Homebound Outreach program.

Wysocki, who will attend Saginaw State University in University Center, Michigan, was also active in community initiatives, including Vacation Bible School, Feed My Starving Children, High School Conference Guide, the Plainfield Fire Protection District and other school activities away from the four sports she participated in.

“Undoubtedly, there are many athletes from the SPC that stand out,” Wysocki said in a letter explaining why she deserved to be the SPC Report Student-Athlete Scholarship award winner. “I would like to believe that I have left my mark by showing sportsmanship, athletic drive, motivation for my team, pride in my school and that I have been a role model for others as a student-athlete.

“I hope I will be remembered not only for my athletic ability, but mostly for a person of compassion and character. My wish is that I have inspired others to be involved in their school. My coaches, teammates and teachers at Plainfield High School have helped me learn and grow as a student-athlete.”

“Bailey is a model teammate and an ideal role model for current and future students at Plainfield Central High School,” girls soccer coach Ken Schoen said in a letter of recommendation. “Bailey is someone the whole community can be proud of.”

Ready earned letters in cross country, basketball and baseball during his career.

He is ranked 21st out of 435 senior classmates at Plainfield North.

Ready is a member of the National Honor Society, Spanish National Honor Society, Chess Club and a church youth group.

After the devastation along the gulf coast because of Hurricane Katrina in 2008, Ready spent a week as a laborer laying tile, installing insulation and hanging drywall. It was the first of three annual week-long summer mission trips.

A year later, he helped organize and clean a thrift shop and worked as a supervisor for a Children’s Club in Newport, Tennessee.

Last summer, he spent time repairing and painting wood decks in Birmingham, Alabama.

Don’t be surprised if he returns to the region this year to help those affected by the outbreak of tornadoes in the south.

In addition to being a math tudor, he donated and wrapped gifts for the Spanish Honor Society’s Dear Santa Toy Drive, has served food at the Hesed House in Aurora, which provides services to poor and homeless people in the area, has promoted the Tiger Reading Club to elementary school children through the varsity basketball team and was a participant in the annual Cross Country Run-A-Thon for the American Cancer Society the past two years.

He will attend Butler University in Indianapolis, Indiana to study pharmacy, with a minor in Spanish.

“To most people at my school I am recognized as the “athletic nerd”, also known as someone in varsity sports that is in many (advanced placement) classes,” Ready said when asked why he deserved to be the SPC Report Student-Athlete Scholarship award winner. “I assume they wonder how I am able to maintain good grades while dedicating many hours a day to each of the three sports I compete in. It takes discipline and determination, which I learned from the sports I compete in, to earn the grades I do. Throughout my high school career, the discipline and determination I had toward my schoolwork has resulted in gaining time management skills that can be used in college and eventually a job.”

“I’ve very rarely had a student with such a gifted combination of social and academic skills,” Plainfield North physics teacher Jay Patel said in a letter of recommendation. “He is simply one of the nicest students I have ever had. I know based on his skills alone, he is bound to succeed in any field he chooses to pursue. Having come to know his character, he has also earned my respect and best wishes.”

Wysocki and Ready were among three male and female finalists.

The other female finalists were Olivia Scott of Plainfield Central and Samantha Cichy of Plainfield South.

The other male finalists were Brian Conlee of Oswego East and Joe McAsey of Minooka.

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