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Wholey ready for the next chapter at CMU

By Eleanor Bailey almanac Sports Editor ebailey@thealmanac.Net 5 min read
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As he writes the next chapter in his life, Connor Wholey of Bethel Park will use the previous pages to carve out his niche in the world.

After graduating from Bethel Park High School in June, the Eagle Scout will play football and major in chemical engineering at Carnegie Mellon University this fall. To supplement his education, Wholey received a $9,000 stipend as the recipient of the 2018 Ken Waldie Memorial Scholarship Award.

“This is such a prestigious award and I am honored to receive it and I am thankful for the wonderful people at the memorial fund,” said the 18-year-old son of Patrick and Susan Wholey.

Established by classmates Steve McGinnis, Frank DelPercio, Terry Crump and Tom Etzel, the Friends of Waldie organization has awarded over $100,000 to area student/athletes and their families. The distinction is meant to recognize the qualities and characteristics Ken Waldie possessed before his tragic death during the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001. Waldie was a passenger on board the first airplane that crashed into the World Trade Center in New York City. Forty-six at the time of his death, Waldie left behind a wife, Carol, three sons, Andrew, Jeffrey and Jonathan, and a daughter, Meredith, along with a brother, Jack, and three sisters, Jane, Mary Louise and Grace.

“Wining the award is a tremendous honor that I will take with me throughout the rest of my life,” Wholey said. “It represents the culmination of all the hard work I have put into scholastic pursuits, athletics, and other activities.”

Wholey very much was as active as Waldie.

While Waldie was a swimmer at Bethel Park as well as the United States Naval Academy, Wholey played football, earning two varsity letters and All-Conference laurels as a senior. Both were team captains and competed on championship clubs; Waldie on BP’s first WPIAL winner and Wholey on the Hawks’ conference winner.

Waldie was a leader outside the pool. He was voted class president each of his four years at the Naval Academy, something that had never been accomplished at the tradition-rich institution. After fulfilling his five-year military commitment, Waldie used his mathematics degree to gain employment with Raytheon Corporation. In earning a masters degree, he graduated first in his class.

Meanwhile, Wholey excelled off the gridiron. He graduated with highest honors and a 4.2 GPA. He belonged to the National Honor Society. He also was a member of the Boy Scouts of America, earning the Order of the Arrow as well as the highest rank that of an Eagle Scout.

As honor was of prime importance to Waldie, part of the scholarship process entailed writing an essay about a life experience that taught about this characteristic. Wholey wrote about his Eagle project and how it challenged him to make an honorable decision. While constructing a brick walkway at the Enoch Wright Historical House in Venetia and doing landscaping on the property, Wholey made a mistake.

“Selfishly I contemplated ignoring the problem, as it was somewhat minor. However, I realized I would have done a disservice to myself and my beneficiary if I were to have taken the easy way out,” he said.

Since elementary school, Wholey has benefited from scouting. He learned more than how to pack for an outing and how to survive a cold night in a tent. He acquired skills that shaped who he is today.

“Scouting has had an incredible, positive impact on the person I have become. It has rounded out my character by teaching me leadership, and strengthening my soft skills. It provided the opportunity for me to learn many small, but important skills. I will forever carry with me the selfless, charitable attitude that I acquired while helping others at many community service events and my friends at their Eagle projects.

“Scouting was a good way to make friends and my parents were wise enough to know that it would have a positive impact on me.”

Football, likewise, impacted Wholey positively. A two-way lineman, he will play offensive tackle for the Tartans in college.

“Football taught me the mental and physical discipline needed to succeed in such a brutal game and in life,” he said. “The thing that I will take with me from football is the brotherhood that develops between all the members of the team. It is something truly special.”

Special was beating Mt. Lebanon last fall to clinch the conference championship. While Wholey anticipates such highlights at CMU, he is also focused on pursuing his true career objectives. He wants to become a chemical engineer, work at a firm or perhaps concentrate on research and development.

“Math and science have always fascinated me and engineering is the embodiment of those two fields with the goal of solving real word problems,” he said.

Parents: Patrick and Susan

Sibling: Kate, 16

School: 2018 Bethel Park graduate

Accolades: 4.24 GPA, National Honor Society, Teen Leadership Corps, Boy Scouts of America, Order of the Arrow award, Eagle Scout distinction.

College: Carnegie Mellon

Major: Chemical engineering

Sport: Football

Food: Mexican

Book: Those by Jon Krakauer, including Into Thin Air and Into The Wild.

Hero: Fredrick Salenske (my grandfather). “He has been persevering through a battle with lung cancer for the past two years.”

On your bucket list: I hope to one day see the Himalayas and perhaps summit a peak.

People might be surprised to know this about you: My family and I are related to the Wholeys of the Pittsburgh fish market although the relation is distant. I also can solve the Rubix cube. I consider it one of my hobbies.

In 15 years I will be: “Doing well.”

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