MADISON – Dylan Meier was a great athlete and a competitor, who gave all he could to win every game he played.
However, Dylan also knew there was more to life than just Friday nights or Saturday afternoons on the football field. He understood the importance of community, friendship – and above all – family.
So it was fitting that Kole Schankie, Madison’s senior running back who led the Bulldogs to consecutive 8-Man Division I state championships, was surrounded by his parents, brothers, grandparents and a slew of uncles, aunts and cousins as he received the inaugural Dylan Meier Get Busy Livin’ Player of the Year Award on Friday night at Madison High School. Schankie was presented the award by Dylan’s three brothers – Shad, Adam and Kerry Meier. All four of the Meier brothers played college football, with Shad and Dylan competing at Kansas State, Adam at Pittsburg State and Kerry at The University of Kansas. Shad also played in the NFL with the Tennessee Titans and New Orleans Saints and Kerry is currently a member of the Atlanta Falcons.
The award, named in honor of Dylan, a standout quarterback at Kansas State University and Pittsburg High School who died in a hiking accident in April 2010 at the age of 26, goes to a Kansas high school senior who combines excellence on the field with community involvement, integrity and a commitment to the Get Busy Livin’ principles.
“When we started kicking around the idea of creating an award in Dylan’s honor, we knew it had to go to a great football player, because that’s what Dylan was,” said Matt Gilmore, co-owner of Kpreps.com. “But even more important were the off the field accolades that he embodied. Those include a strong work ethic in the classroom and being involved in the community and the school.”
The Dylan Meier Get Busy Livin’ Player of the Year Award will go to a senior high school football player in Kansas each year. The award is made possible by Mytown Media and Kpreps.com. As part of the award, Mytown Media will make a donation of $1,000 on behalf of the winner to the Dylan Meier Get Busy Livin’ Foundation. The GBL also would like to honor Schankie by providing an $800 scholarship, as well as a $200 donation to the charity of his choice to continue the GBL spirit of “paying it forward.” The Meier brothers also presented Schankie a wood-carved piece of art depicting the Get Busy Livin’ logo.
Schankie led Madison to 8-Man Division I state titles in 2010 and 2011. The senior running back finished his career with 120 touchdowns, 4,907 rushing yards and 525 receiving yards. He also recorded 291 career tackles. Schankie was named the 8-Man Division I Offensive Player of the Year by Kpreps and was a two-time All-State first-team selection at running back. He signed his letter of intent to continue his football career at Emporia State University.
In addition to Schankie’s on-field success, he has displayed a willingness to help others. In support of a local child with cancer, Schankie was one of several students to shave his head. He participated in the school’s community service day the past four years by sweeping the downtown streets in preparation for the Madison Days celebration. He has attended a Mission trip to an Oklahoma City homeless shelter and has been a member of the Methodist Youth Group and the Lamont Wesleyan Church. He has attended the Falls Creek Church Camp and Young Christians Weekend every year since 2006. Schankie has worked with the local youth group by collecting items for the local food pantry.
“Kole, congratulations,” said Shad Meier as he presented the award along with his brothers Adam and Kerry. “You have paved the way for future Get Busy Livin’ Foundation players. You have set the bar high. We think you fit all the characteristics that Dylan embodied. We chose you because of who you are as a person and what you want to do in life.”
A number of players from each classification were originally selected as candidates based on their exceptional on-field play. Fan nominations also were gathered through Kpreps.com. Coaches were then solicited for information about the players’ character, school performance, community involvement and hobbies.
From those submissions, the GBL Foundation narrowed down this group to six finalists. Each of the finalists answered a series of questions. From that, the Meier family and the GBL Foundation board selected Schankie as the winner. The board’s decision was consistent with a Kpreps.com poll that received more than 2,000 votes.
Other finalists included Olathe Northwest wide receiver Willie Cauley, Blue Valley running back Justin Fulks, Central Burden quarterback Bo Savage, St. Mary’s-Colgan twin brothers Zach and Chris Smith, and Sedgwick quarterback Trent Stucky.
SECOND ANNUAL GET BUSY LIVIN’ RUN
In addition to the award, the GBL is planning its second annual Dylan Meier Foundation 5-kilometer run in Pittsburg, Kan. The run will be April 28 at Hutchinson Field. Registration begins at 7:30 a.m. and the run starts at 9 a.m. Online registration is available at www.sportkc.org/get busy2012.
ABOUT DYLAN MEIER & THE GET BUSY LIVIN' FOUNDATION
Dylan Meier, a 2002 graduate of Pittsburg High School, was a two-time All-State quarterback for the Purple Dragons. He continued his football career at Kansas State and started 11 games from 2004-2006 as the Wildcats' signal caller.
Dylan Meier, a 2002 graduate of Pittsburg High School, was a two-time All-State quarterback for the Purple Dragons. He continued his football career at Kansas State and started 11 games from 2004-2006 as the Wildcats' signal caller.
On April 19, 2010, Meier died in an accident while hiking with family in Arkansas.
In addition to his time in Kansas, Dylan played professional football in Germany and Italy, served as a bodyguard for Italian fashion models, worked in a vineyard overseas, ran with the bulls in Spain, and went skydiving in the Alps. His next plans included coaching football in Europe, teaching English in Korea and possibly a return to Kansas State as a graduate assistant.
“He had a real zest for life,” Merle Clark, Dylan’s former coach and a family friend said days after the accident. “He lived a lot in his 26 years.”
That zest for life is the basis of the Get Busy Livin’ Foundation that was established in Dylan’s honor. The mission is to provide support for individuals and groups that embody the values that Dylan pursued: adventure, fitness, curiosity, generosity, and a daily zest for life experiences.
The GBL Foundation is determined to breakdown the boundaries that keep people from living life to the fullest, whether those boundaries be social, economical or imaginary.
The GBL Foundation will use donations to promote these values in the following ways: student/athletic scholarships, sports camp sponsorships, student travel abroad scholarships, community service needs and other activities that inspire and build character.
For more information, please visit http://getbusylivin.org
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