NCHSAA names winner of the Tony Cullen Memorial Scholarship
CHAPEL HILL – The North Carolina High School Athletic Association is pleased to announce the 2016 winner of the Tony Cullen Memorial Scholarship, providing a scholarship in the amount of $1,000 for one senior male varsity lacrosse player at an NCHSAA member institution planning to attend a North Carolina College or University. This year’s winner is Thomas Romanik from Reagan High School in Pfafftown. He will receive the award at Saturday’s 4A Men’s Lacrosse State Championship Game at Wake Med Soccer Stadium in Cary during a halftime ceremony.
Romanik has battled injuries on the field, including a freak accident in practice that cause his kneecap to dislocate, missing his entire fall lacrosse season. When he was cleared to play after missing so much time, he rushed himself back and injured the same area, but more severely, requiring surgery to repair the damage. With the injury, Romanik was not able to participate on the field, but he remained a part of the program as the team’s manager, learning more about the game.
The injury forced him to take a different role with his club team as well, as Romanik became involved as an assistant coach on the J.V. Summer Travel team that he played with.
Romanik has tested himself academically while at Reagan, his Student Services Counselor, Emily Allen, described him as, “fearless in his education.” She went on to add, “he sets a high standard of achievement for himself. He has taken, at minimum, honors level courses in each core subject since freshman year. Fascinated by history, Tom has taken exclusively seminar or AP level History courses. By the time he graduates he will have successfully completed eight AP level courses.”
In the fall, Romanik plans to attend Pfeiffer University, where he has been offered a chance to participate on the Men’s Lacrosse team. He has also received Pfeiffer’s prestigious Presidential Scholarship and plans to study history.
The Tony Cullen Memorial Scholarship Fund was created to honor former lacrosse player, coach and official, Tony Cullen who passed away in 2002 following a courageous battle with cancer. The scholarship is awarded annually and recognizes a lacrosse player for his achievements in the classroom, on the lacrosse field, and as a good citizen. To be considered for this award, the recipient must seek to continue his academic studies and play Varsity Men’s Lacrosse at a North Carolina College or University.
