Staff Intern

SCHENEVUS — A local school project is dedicated to reaching out to students with positive messages straight from the mouths of American sports celebrities.

Rich Westcott of Schenevus began the program more than four years ago by writing letters to famous sports figures and asking for words of wisdom, positive messages about sports, school, saying no to drugs or anything else to encourage the students. The celebrities' responses were hung outside the Vincent A. Ciliberti gym at Schenevus Central School in an area dubbed "The Hallway of Honor."

"El Corredo de Honoria," as the school's Spanish students labeled it, is a row of framed photographs and "inspirational messages" collected from more than 50 coaches and players, Westcott said.

"It's my baby," he said. Westcott is a Schenevus Central School graduate, the assistant coach of the school's varsity softball team and a former school board member.

Westcott devised the project to bring more people to see the sports trophy case but it evolved into something more, he said.

"These are great messages, and the kids can get a lot out of it," he said.

"Reading the quotes makes you think about sports," said Santana Peeters, 14, a student at Schenevus Central School. "(The messages) say do your best and try to achieve what you can."

In addition to writing letters, Westcott has recently begun using the Internet and e-mail to communicate with the stars. Of 200 e-mails he's sent, he estimated that 15 to 20 have been answered.

Westcott said most responses have been from coaches or retired players, but some have also come from Olympic champions. Some of those featured in the hallway include Jennifer Baronet, a local graduate and softball player; Rik Smits, a former center for the Indiana Pacers; John Wooden, "the dean of all coaches" according to Westcott; and pro golfer Arnold Palmer, a man Westcott wrote to twice because he "really wanted to get him."

One of the letters Westcott remembers most came from former Major League Baseball manager Sparky Anderson in a plain envelope and stationary without a letterhead. It contained two pages of handwritten words.

"This is what we wanted," Westcott explained, "when the celebrities take the time to write themselves."

Westcott credited much of his success to the people who helped organize and display the messages: Rose Shulgay, the superintendent's secretary; Joe Bomba, the building custodian; Ed Shultis, the superintendent; and Marjorie Kelly, the former superintendent.

"These are inspirational messages," said Patrick Broe, a baseball coach at the school. "Kids walk through these halls and take note."

Broe's favorite picture came from Babe Ruth's daughter with a message about taking school seriously.

Westcott said he has heard from parents of children from other schools who come to watch competitions and are impressed by the Hallway of Honor.

"That's what I want," he said, "for people to know about it and read the messages."