“President of the Leah Hayes Fan Club.”

Yep, Brayden isn’t bashful about sharing how he feels about his mother.

“I have been lucky enough to grow up in a home with a hard-working and caring parent,” Brayden said. “My mom has ensured to give me the best life and has done her best to provide for me financially.”

Leah’s hard work has paid off, deciding when Brayden was still a youngster to pursue a college degree in special education. Ultimately, she earned a job at an elementary school in Jamestown and, later, upon completing her master’s degree, she was named the dean of students at the school.

Photo courtesy of C/S/P Football Sherman senior Brayden Hayes is the recipient of the 39th Frank Hyde Memorial Scholarship.

She wasn’t done.

Leah recently completed her college education and is on track to obtain a job in administration. As Brayden approaches the start of his freshman year at Baldwin Wallace University, he has apparently taken figurative notes.

“She has shown me the dedication, responsibility and determination that it takes to not only pursue a college degree,” Brayden said, “but to also support and provide for the people you care most about.”

Frank Hyde would have been proud of the 17-year-old’s desire to follow Leah’s lead.

The Post-Journal sports editor from 1945-79, Hyde valued young people for their character, their achievement in academics and sports, their leadership, and their school and community involvement.

Brayden checks all the boxes.

For that reason, he is this year’s recipient of the 39th annual Frank Hyde Memorial Scholarship, which is awarded to the outstanding college-bound athlete, male or female, from the OBSERVER/Post-Journal’s circulation areas in Chautauqua and Cattaraugus counties.

Brayden graduated last month ranked No. 1 in his class; was the senior class president; and a member of the National Honor Society. Outside of school, he is a member of the New York State Baseball Umpires Association and serves as an umpire for Little League games; coaches youth basketball and helps run the community’s summer basketball camp; is a junior firefighter with the Stanley Hose Company Fire Department; and served as an intern with the Jamestown Tarp Skunks in 2022. As an athlete, Brayden participated in three different sports while a Sherman student — basketball, football and cross country — and served as team captain in the former where he earned all-league honors.

“Brayden’s character is his main strength,” said Cory Emory, SCS math teacher/varsity basketball coach/athletic director in his letter of recommendation. ” … He is the type of student and person that you want in your scholarship. Every situation that he has been a part of, he has excelled and left it better off than it was before he got there. Sherman Central School definitely is a better place because of him.”

Added Joel Fisher — a teacher, coach and advisor at SCS: “His compassion for helping others is evident and (he) is surely going to make the world around him a better place to be in. I’m confident that he will continue to serve others as he enters the next phase of his life.”

Brayden, who plans to major in sports management and minor in statistics at Baldwin Wallace, said his “main goal in life is to give back to my community.”

“I have grown up in the very supportive community of Sherman,” he said. “It may be a very small town, but that is what makes it great. I have made many relationships and have been shown support from so many people in the community. Everyone cares for each other and will be there when you are in need. … My community consists of my mom, my family, my school, my town and my supporters.”

Brayden joins an accomplished list of Hyde Memorial Scholarship recipients. Past winners are: 1985, Steve Penhollow, Cassadaga Valley; 1986, Rich Crane, Sherman; 1987, Nancy Dornsife, Randolph; 1988, Mary Mansfield, Pine Valley; 1989, Jackson Rohm, Southwestern; 1990, Pam Crowell, Pine Valley; 1991, Cory Emory, Sherman; 1992, Ken Davenport, Falconer; 1993, Jennifer Tate, Falconer; 1994, Justin Johnson, Jamestown; 1995, Andy McMaster, Jamestown; 1996, Patrick Swanson, Sherman; 1997, Adam Beckerink, Frewsburg; 1998, Matthew Baideme, Westfield; 1999, Leigh Baumgart, Falconer; 2000, Craig Swanson, Jamestown; 2001, Trevor Cable, Frewsburg; 2002, Kathy Baum, Ripley; 2003, Ashley Kulju, Maple Grove; 2004, Rob Prinzi, Jamestown; 2005, Matt Mazgaj, Southwestern; 2006, Natalie Thorpe, Southwestern; 2007, Michael McGinnis, Falconer; 2008, Nicole Frederickson, Jamestown; 2009, Jennifer Andrews, Randolph; 2010, Mallory Deuink, Clymer; 2011, Joey Campion, Jamestown; 2012, Shannon Murphy, Falconer; 2013, Zachary Eklum, Jamestown; 2014, Jordan Powers, Southwestern; 2015, Zack Panebianco, Jamestown; 2016, Matthew Marsh, Jamestown; 2017, Wyatt Perry, Southwestern; 2018, Giuseppe Hoose, Southwestern; 2019, Allison Stockwell, Jamestown; 2020, Samantha Gilbert, Falconer; 2021, Cassidy Allen, Southwestern; and 2022, Darien Swanson, Westfield.