A Legacy in Motion
Every spring the Crestwood School District announces the Lael Swank Memorial Scholarship, a $2,500 award that bridges the gap between high school football and college ambitions. The grant is presented to graduating players who continue their athletic and academic careers at the next level, with recent recipients including Giovanni Barna, headed to Ursinus College, and Jaden Shedlock, bound for Franklin & Marshall College.
The scholarship was created to commemorate Lael Swank, a longtime devotee of Crestwood football who lost a battle with breast cancer in March 2020. His passion extended beyond the sidelines, touching the lives of his own children, Garrett and Jason Swank, both of whom chased football dreams at Susquehanna University and West Virginia University respectively.
Selection of each winner rests with a committee that includes head coach Ryan Arcangeli, athletic director Michael McCree, and Randall Swank, who together evaluate candidates on merit, character and future potential. The award is one‑time and non‑renewable, paid directly to the student or their family.
Since the program’s debut, the initiative has disbursed a total of $19,500 to eleven former Crestwood athletes, a modest but meaningful investment in the community’s sporting heritage. The scholarship not only honors Lael Swank’s memory but also reinforces a culture of academic and athletic excellence that continues to inspire new generations of Crestwood football players.