During the Salisbury School Board meeting Jan. 18, board members discussed and took a vote on the “Colin Geoffrey Ottinger Memorial Scholastic Soccer Award” and the necessary criteria to be met by the student who is the recipient of the funds.

Colin G. Ottinger, a 2006 graduate of Salisbury High School, member of National Honor Society and summa cum laude graduate of the Class of 2011 at Ursinus College, was diagnosed with cancer at the age of 12, while a student at Salisbury Middle School.

Through illness and setbacks, Colin continued to achieve goals and inspire others and become an award winning artist and the author of two published works of fiction including “Milo and the Flood.” Colin had completed his third book and was working on his fourth at the time of his passing.

A gifted miniature golfer, Colin won the individual championship tournament at Putt-U in 2011. In a tribute to Colin on the Putt-U website, it read that even through his illness and medical setbacks, Colin was an “inspiration and fierce competitor who never backed down from a challenge.”

Colin played the course over 400 times, according to the site and had a play-off record that was “unmatched.”

As a soccer player, Ottinger was a member of both the Salisbury Youth Association and Salisbury Middle School teams. Charlene Ottinger said her son was a “gifted striker” but never had the opportunity to play for the SHS soccer team.

After initial opening comments about the award by the board, the Ottingers, in attendance, asked if they could address the members of the board. The board welcomed the Ottingers and asked them to stand to be recognized.

Charlene Ottinger began by saying, “We would first like to thank the township and the school district, both the middle school and high school, for the support they have given us and also Colin when he took ill back in 2000.

“I am going to embarrass Mrs. Klinger [school board member and former SMS teacher] because she was extremely instrumental in helping us by making sure we had dinners and for taking care of Lindsey [the Ottinger’s daughter] when we were down at Children’s Hospital during numerous visits for Colin.”

Charlene Ottinger said after Colin was diagnosed, a major fundraiser was organized by people in the Salisbury Township School District. The money raised was to be used to purchase a speaking computer for Colin; however, Lehigh Valley Hospital paid for the computer and therefore, the money from the fundraising efforts was banked into an account for Colin’s care. Ottinger asked her husband to elaborate.

Joseph Ottinger said the initial funds, along with additional funds allocated for Colin’s care including a tracheal transplant for which Colin did not have an opportunity to realize, over time had increased to $20,000. The Ottingers said they would like to use the funds for the Colin Geoffrey Ottinger Memorial Scholastic Soccer Award.

Joseph Ottinger said the scholarship program will award $1,000 each year, over a 20-year period, to a senior male or female student soccer player who “has overcome obstacles and achieved excellence in their lives as Colin did.”

The final recipient will be awarded the interest accrued on the account in addition to the $1,000 award.

The Ottingers explained Colin had discussed the donation with his parents prior to his passing and he had agreed the scholarship program was something he wanted to do for students at Salisbury.

After the Ottingers were finished speaking, members of the board and attendees at the meeting applauded the Ottinger’s generosity and the board members thanked them for sharing their story and for the scholarship program.

“Getting to know Colin as a soccer player and a student served so much inspiration for the coaches, fellow students and teammates,” Board Member Audrey Frick said. “I know that my husband Barry and Mark Allinson will feel this is a blessing and pick another student to be helped by this generous scholarship. Thank you very much.”

Barry Frick and Allinson are both teachers at Salisbury High School.

Charlene Ottinger thanked Frick for her support of the program and responded she would also like to thank Monica Deeb, the director of student activities at Salisbury High School.

“Monica and her family have been an integral part of our family and have been very supportive to us as well as the soccer program; kudos to Monica and Mrs. Klinger for their support.”

Klinger responded, “Colin was such a joy.We all looked up to him and to you for how you handled the situation and the appreciation you gave to us. We felt appreciated and we did what we did because we all loved Colin.”

The Ottingers thanked the board for their comments and continued support.

Board President Frank Frankenfield concluded the discussion thanking the Ottingers on behalf of the entire board stating, “It is such a wonderful thing you are doing for the students in the future. It will mean so much to a student just starting college. Having a scholarship program in your son’s name is a great thing for the district.”

The board unanimously voted to approve the scholarship program.