By Randy Vogt, Director of Public Relations, Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association
July 28, 2016-The Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA) congratulates Grace Mailey, who is receiving a Jack Bauman Scholarship, which is based on academic and athletic success as well as community service. The scholarship’s namesake, Jack Bauman, is considered the father of women’s soccer on Long Island. He was devoted to the Massapequa Soccer Club, Eastern New York and making sure that girls had as many opportunities to play soccer as boys did in an era when girls playing sports was not as accepted as it is today.
In her essay, Grace wrote, “My opportunities in life increased tremendously when I was adopted from China at nine months old. My parents wanted me to try different activities to find out what I was most interested in pursuing. I took dance, gymnastics, violin and piano lessons. I played softball, basketball, lacrosse and soccer. I love all sports but once I started playing soccer, I never stopped.“
In the Capital District Youth Soccer League (CDYSL), Grace played for the Alleycats and has also served as a referee for the past five years. At Scotia-Glenville High School, she was on the High Honor Roll, a member of the National Honor Society, received the Academic Achievement Award plus Perfect Attendance Award and was honored as Most Valuable Player of the girls varsity soccer team.
For her performance on the violin, Grace was inducted into the Tri-M Music Honor Society plus received Excellent and Superior Ratings from the Music Festival.
Eastern New York wishes Grace the best as she takes her soccer cleats and violin to Hobart and William Smith Colleges this fall.
With over 100,000 youth soccer players––both boys and girls––and more than 25,000 volunteers, the non-profit Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association (ENYYSA) stretches from Montauk Point, Long Island to the Canadian border. Members are affiliated with 11 leagues throughout the association, which covers the entire state of New York east of Route 81. ENYYSA exists to promote and enhance the game of soccer for children and teenagers between the ages of 5 and 19 years old, and to encourage the healthy development of youth players, coaches, referees and administrators. All levels of soccer are offered––from intramural, travel team and premier players as well as Children With Special Needs. No child who wants to play soccer is turned away. ENYYSA is a proud member of the United States Soccer Federation and United States Youth Soccer Association. For more information, please log on to http://www.enysoccer.com/, which receives nearly 300,000 hits annually from the growing soccer community.