OBSERVER File Photo Silver Creek senior Samuel Bowers is the recipient of the 42nd annual Frank Hyde Memorial Scholarship.

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

He sure would have liked Sam Bowers, because the recent Silver Creek High School graduate meets all those standards, making him a more than worthy recipient of the 42nd annual Frank Hyde Memorial Scholarship, which is awarded to the outstanding college-bound athlete — male or female — from The Post-Journal/OBSERVER’s circulation areas in Chautauqua and Cattaraugus counties.

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Gregory Cole has known and admired Bowers for years, so the community Boys Scout leader shared one of his favorite stories in his letter of recommendation that accompanied Bowers’ scholarship application.

“I recognized early on,” Cole wrote, “that (he) has a special leadership quality that enables him to bring groups of scouts together to work cooperatively on projects.”

So as Bowers was pursuing the rank of Eagle Scout, he spearheaded an effort to make serious upgrades to the prayer chapel at Mt. Carmel RC Church in the village.

“Sam raised funds, requested material donations and scheduled volunteers,” wrote Cole, who is also a member of the Silver Creek Board of Education. ” … Due to the extensive nature of this project, Sam was recognized by the Allegheny Highlands BSA Council for having the Eagle Scout Project of the Year in 2022.”

Receiving recognition for performance at the highest levels is something that has followed Bowers throughout his time as a Black Knight.

An exceptional student — he was the senior class salutatorian; leader — he has been honored for his leadership skills by many, many organizations in the last five years; and athlete — he holds school track records in three individual events and as part of a pair of relays — Bowers has also shown remarkable resilience.

“When Sam suffered an injury that required major surgery,” Silver Creek varsity track & field and cross country coach Raymond Graf wrote in his letter of recommendation, “he not only continued to support his teammates, participate in events and worked toward his rehabilitation, but he also returned stronger than ever. By his senior year, he earned MVP awards on three separate teams, served as captain for all of them, and had his name added four times as a holder of school records. He also qualified for the state championships in two of those seasons.”

Bowers’ injury and subsequent successful rehabilitation also helped him identify a career path — to become a physician assistant upon completing his course work at Daemen University.

“On my road to recovery, I had help from several PAs who worked with me to get me back to what I love,” Bowers wrote in his essay accompanying his scholarship application. “I went from reconstructive hip surgery to making it to the state championship twice, all with their help. That is what sparked my interest in the field. I want to be able to do the same for others. I would like to use my career to help others get back to their best lives.”

Heather Krystofiak, Silver Creek High School principal, has no doubt that Bowers, who will also compete on Daemen’s Division II track & field team upon his arrival on the Amherst campus, will be successful in that quest.

“He is motivated not only to achieve at a high level, but also to challenge himself to grow and improve,” she wrote in her letter of recommendation. “This mindset has enabled him to reach impressive levels of success while maintaining respect for his classmates and fostering positivity. He views challenges as opportunities and pushes himself to reach new goals.”

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Past winners of the $1,000 Hyde Memorial Scholarship 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; 2022, Darien Swanson, Westfield; 2023, Brayden Hayes, Sherman; 2024, Reece Beaver, Southwestern; and 2025, Elayna Pitts, Frewsburg.