Paul “Lefty” Wennik Outstanding Character Scholarship
It is with a heavy heart that we share the passing of Paul “Lefty” Wennik on November 26, 2024
Paul profoundly influenced Beyond Soccer’s mission, programs, and players—as a coach, mentor, board member, and friend. From his left-handed pitching career and UMass Athletics Hall of Fame induction to his success in the music industry, Paul’s passion for people and community shined in everything he did.
Read Paul’s obituary →
Thanks to YOU, Beyond Soccer awards an annual scholarship!
Continuing Paul’s Legacy
Thanks to generous supporters—and the Cummings Foundation’s $25,000 grant combined with a major gift from the JPC Foundation—Beyond Soccer reached its initial $100,000 goal to endow the Paul “Lefty” Wennik Outstanding Character Scholarship Fund.
Please consider a donation to sustain Paul’s legacy of character and opportunity.
Honoring Paul’s Legacy in Action
Our Impact Coordinator, Declan Murphy, created a special video highlighting Paul “Lefty” Wennik’s lasting impact on Beyond Soccer. In it, you’ll hear directly from our scholarship recipients about how Paul’s generosity and spirit continue to open doors for their futures.
Scholarship Recipients
In June 2023, Executive Director Stephanie McArdle and Board President Nina Leach proudly awarded the first Paul “Lefty” Wennik Outstanding Character Scholarship to Luiz Lopez, helping him attend UMass Lowell.
The second recipient, Eliany Guzman, is currently pursuing a degree in biology at Northeastern University. Her words, which were highlighted in a front-page Eagle Tribune story, remind us why this scholarship matters:
“Stephanie has seen me grow up, and I’ve seen her grow up with the program. It’s amazing to see how far Beyond Soccer has come.”
This year, we’re thrilled to share that we’ve now awarded our third—and fourth—scholarships! The selection committee was so inspired by Illeana Fournier and Jacob Calle, who are now attending Boston College and Merrimack College, that we expanded the awards to celebrate both.
Read more in our newsletter → Coming Soon
Read Luiz’s story → HERE!
Read Eliany’s story → HERE!
Learn more about the full Paul “Lefty” Wennik Scholarship → HERE!
