Warren Twp. High honors fallen alum

U.S. Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Sean P. Maher's memory will live on through students who show they have plenty of heart at Warren Township High School in Gurnee.

Warren District 121 board members Tuesday night approved a proposal from the late Marine's parents to create an annual college scholarship for a student-athlete in his name. The first $2,500 scholarship will be awarded at honors night toward the end of the 2008-09 academic year.

Maher, 19, and his unit came under hostile fire near Fallujah in the Al Anbar province when he died Feb. 2, 2005. He was driving the first Humvee in a convoy and leading his fellow Marines when he was shot.

Dan Maher, of unincorporated Warren Township near Grayslake and Gurnee, said a foundation has been established in his son's name to finance the annual scholarship. The student-athlete selected for the $2,500 scholarship should exhibit traits similar to Sean Maher: dedication, commitment and lots of heart.

"It's in honor of Sean and everything he represented, everything he did," Dan Maher said before Tuesday night's Warren board meeting.

Sean Maher played football at Warren and was known as an athlete whose drive led him to excel beyond sheer talent.

In a letter of support for the scholarship written to Warren Superintendent Phil Sobocinski, Gov. Rod Blagojevich said Maher had a lasting effect on many lives.

"Friends and family can sum up Sean in one word: heart. A kind, caring and passionate young man, Sean gave it all on the field and gave of himself to help others at every turn," Blagojevich wrote.

Other memorial scholarships Warren awards at honors night include one honoring Kate Pedersen, sponsored by her family, the Future Business Leaders of America and Grayslake Animal Hospital. Three seniors are eligible to receive $500 apiece by writing an essay that captures the essence of courage, hope and love" associated with Pedersen, who died from cancer in 2002.