Villarreal benefit concert funds scholarships for Geneva grads

Although Dustin Villarreal has been gone for several years, he is not forgotten.

In anticipation of the third annual benefit concert, set for 7 p.m. Saturday, April 28, at the Arcada in St. Charles, past recipients of the Dustin Villarreal Memorial Scholarship shared their memories of Dustin and how the scholarship has helped them achieve their goals.

The concert will feature Rick Lindy and the Wild Ones, Back Country Roads, and the Rick “Elvis” Saucedo Show. The emcee will be Scott MacKay from 95.9 The River. Tickets are $20 in advance or $25 at the door.

All profits from the annual benefit concert are devoted to at least two $2,000 scholarships awarded to graduating Geneva High School seniors.

Since 2007, the Dustin Villarreal Memorial Scholarship has made attending college a little easier for 12 Geneva High School graduates.

The honor that five of the recipients felt in being recognized with the scholarship, however, has played an even greater and significant role in their lives.

For Trey Hemming, being awarded the scholarship in 2009 was, he said, an “absolute honor” because of what it stood for: leadership, team cooperation, community service, and character.

“If there is anything I can be proud of,” said Trey, “it’s the fact that I was thought of as someone who represented such qualities as the scholarship entails.”

He used the monies he received to help pay for a laptop and books; he will graduate from the University of Kentucky in May 2013.

Taylor Hines, another 2009 scholarship recipient, used the money to help fund tuition at the University of Iowa where he is studying biomedical engineering. He, too will graduate in May 2013.

“It meant a great deal for me to represent Dustin’s tremendous character and wholehearted personality,” said Taylor Hines, who had known Dustin since the two were in third grade together. “We played on the same traveling soccer team for about six years; our relationship grew and our families developed a close bond. I would not be the person I am today without the positive impact Dustin and his family made on my life.”

Cory Hoffstetter, who graduated from Geneva High in 2009, used the money his first year of college to attend Western Illinois University. He and Dustin played sports together from elementary school until Dustin’s passing.

The scholarship money Mike Mayzak received when he graduated in 2008 “went straight toward my first semester’s tuition,” he said. “I’m playing Division II football which does not cover 100 percent (of my tuition) so the money was very much appreciated. Not only did this help me out it really helped my parents. My sister was also away at school attending Iowa State University.”

Mike is currently attending Truman State University where he is a business management and marketing major, graduating this December. He plays wide receiver for the Bulldogs.

Chris Modjeski was one of the first two recipients of the scholarship, in 2007. He used the money to help pay his tuition at Waubonsee Community College, which he attended for two years before transferring to Northern Illinois University. He is currently a student teacher at St. Charles North High School, and will graduate from NIU next month with a degree in Physical Education.

“I came from a family of six so we had to pay our own way to college,” said Chris. “The scholarship really helped me out a lot and allowed me to save money for the upcoming years of school.”

Mike Mayzak had the opportunity to become very close with the Villarreal family. “Since I was a captain senior year, I had constant communication with Mr. Villarreal. We became very close friends. I tried to be there whenever he needed someone to talk to or if he just wanted to talk football.”

Although Mike didn’t know Dustin as a close friend, he says it was Dustin’s constant dedication to the team, friends, and most importantly family that made receiving a scholarship in his name such an honor.

“Dustin stood for much more than just football; he was a kind, loyal, hardworking kid so I believe that is what the scholarship embodies.”

Like Taylor Hines, many of the scholarship recipients were close friends to Dustin and his family, and fondly remember the enthusiastic young man who could always make people smile.

“Dustin and I became great friends playing soccer and football together,” said Trey Hemming. “Our friendship was much more than just teammates; we were inseparable.”

Taylor Hines said that Dustin “lived his life with a very positive outlook. The scholarship not only represents Dustin himself, but all of the people he touched.”

Besides Taylor, Cory, Trey and Chris, past scholarship recipients include: Russell Acton and Bryan Strah (2011); Michael Stanfa and James James IV (2010); Philip Birschbach (2009); Kurt Smentek and Michael Mayszak (2008); and Ryan McMillin (2007).

“I still wear the wristband dedicated to him, ‘Dustin #66 RIP 5/5/06,’” Trey Hemming said. “I’ll never forget the friend that he was to me.”

Dustin Villarreal, then a 15-year-old student at Geneva High School, died unexpectedly of heart failure on May 6, 2006. The following year, the Villarreal family — his father Dave, mother Jena and brother David — set up the scholarship to honor their son and recognize deserving high school athletes.

Visit dustinvillarrealmemorialfoundation.org to purchase concert tickets online or learn more about the foundation.

If you go

What: Third annual Dustin Villarreal Benefit Concert, featuring Rick “Elvis” Saucedo, Back Country Roads and Rick Lindy and the Wild Ones

When: 7 p.m. Saturday, April 28

Where: Arcada Theater, 105 E. Main St., St. Charles

Tickets: $20 in advance; $25 at the door

Details:<a href="http://www.dustinvillarrealmemorialfoundation.org">dustinvillarrealmemorialfoundation.org</a>