Trimble family donates $34,000 toward new Kennett track in son's memory

In memory of their late son, Andrew, Cathy and Don Trimble have donated $34,000 toward the construction of the track facility at the region's new high school. The family's generous donation puts an alternative funding committee over $200,000 in money raised for the school project."It's perfect timing given the weather, this would brighten any day," Sheryl Kovalik, of the Conway School Board, who chairs the alternative funding committee, said Wednesday after receiving the Trimbles' donation. "We can't thank the Trimble Family enough for their huge donation. It's wonderful. ... This community has a very strong spirit and is definitely pulling together."Andrew Trimble, an outstanding scholar-athlete while at Kennett High and later at Dartmouth College, died in 1992. He was a 1981 graduate from Kennett where he starred as a football player and track athlete all while excelling academically. "He loved learning and sports," the Trimbles wrote in a letter to Kovalik and Carl Nelson, superintendent of schools, Jan. 13. "Andy was an All-State football player in the fall and a discus champion in the spring. He captained both sports at Kennett and was also valedictorian of his class. "He went on to Dartmouth College where he was captain of the indoor and outdoor track teams," they continued. "Andy was also an All-Ivy League hammer thrower. He graduated Magna Cum Laud majoring in mathematics. He specialized in statistics and probability."Trimble was selected to the Kennett High Sports Hall of Fame in 1994, an honor later bestowed to his dad, Don, who was a longtime track and football coach at Kennett, in 1998.The Trimble Family started a scholarship for the valedictorian of Kennett in 1993. They have decided to donate the scholarship fund to a new track and hope that other people will step up and support the local schools."Remember the three ideas of a classic education: body, spirit and mind," the Trimbles wrote in closing.Kovalik said the alternative funding committee remains hard at work exploring grant options. She said to date the "Seat the Auditorium" campaign, to purchase 500 seats for the new school auditorium, continues to go well. Nearly 175 seats at $200 apiece have been sold.Also, last month, the Goldberg Foundation contacted Kovalik to pledge $10,000 toward the fit-out of the acoustic shell for the auditorium. Seat forms are available at all local grocery stores and online at www.educatemwv.com.Earlier this month, Kovalik announced the newest partner in fund-raising efforts for the new high school track, Partners In Health. Partners in Health is a community-based program addressing the needs of families of children with chronic health conditions. Representatives from Partners In Health contacted Kovalik with an offer to help work together to raise funds for the track.We focus on children and prevention of chronic health conditions such as childhood obesity," said Pam Boreman. "A community track will become a great fitness resource for all, which makes this a great alliance. We look forward to working together.Kovalik further added that their (Partners in Health's) knowledge about health programs and potential funding makes them a great asset in moving forward, and it gives us a new angle for applying for the Nike Grant again.An initial effort to secure a grant from Nike athletic apparel company was unsuccessful.For more information on the alternative funding committee, contact Kovalik at 356-9013 or by e-mail at skovalik@adelphia.net.