Ian Gregory Bole Memorial Scholarship (2013)
WELLSVILLE, NY (Written by Kathryn Ross of The Wellsville Daily Reporter) — A young man’s dedication to excellence prompts local industries to create a scholarship in his name to promote that excellence among area youth. According to Allan Barber, at the 2013 Career Days at BOCES in Belmont, leaders of industry in the Manufacturing Committee of the Greater Allegany County Chamber of Commerce expressed an interest in creating a scholarship. “They want to train students in manufacturing. They want to give students an incentive to go to school locally and to work locally after they graduate,” he said, going on to explain that his family also had a similar desire to start a scholarship fund in honor of his nephew Ian Gregory Bole and had already put funds aside in his name. With that as their incentive the manufacturing committee went ahead and established the Sgt. Ian Gregory Bole Memorial Scholarship with the Allegany County Area Foundation.
The first scholarship will be given out this year in memory of Bole. Barber said his nephew, Bole, was an average kid who loved sports and all outdoor activities. He was a 1999 graduate of Scio Central School who attended the Career and Technical Center at BOCES in Belmont where he concentrated on drafting. After graduating with honors he attended Alfred State College where he received a degree in the Drafting/CAD Program. He went to work at Bergman Associates and later at FRA Engineering in Rochester. But that wasn’t the end of the young man’s dreams. “Both his parents had served 20 years in the Marine Corp before retiring to Richburg and Ian wanted to be a Marine too,” Barber said. Following in their footsteps he enlisted in the Marines where he once again excelled receiving 12 medals and commendations including the Afghanistan Campaign Medal and Global War on Terrorism Service Medal and achieving the rank of sergeant. He also served an extended tour in Afghanistan. But after just five years his military career ended when he suffered an injury to his tendons that made him ineligible for further military service. Back in civilian life in Western New York, Bole quickly found employment at Vlucraft Steel in Chemung.
Again, his story doesn’t end there, instead it continues in one of the most meaningful ways and in true Semper Fi tradition. In April 2012, the former Marine died in a motorcycle accident at just 32 years old. However, before passing he had given the Gift of Life by having designated that his organs be donated to those in need. For that he received one last medal, the New York State Gift of Life Medal of Honor.
The first Sgt. Ian Gregory Bole Memorial Scholarship was awarded in June of 2014 to a student pursuing a degree in the manufacturing trades at a local college who intends to work locally. The scholarship is administered by the Allegany County Area Foundation, and those who wish to apply should contact the Foundation at 6087 State Route 19N, Belmont, NY, 14813. For more information call (585) 808-8444 or email: director@alleganycountyareafoundation.org.
