Wisconsin student awarded USBC Annual Zeb Scholarship

Joe Phillips of Fond du Lac, Wis., has been named the winner of the 2010 United States Bowling Congress Annual Zeb Scholarship.

The Zeb Scholarship is awarded to a USBC Youth member who achieves academic success and gives back to the community through service. Started in 2005, the award is named for Jim Zebehazy, who served as executive director of the Young American Bowling Alliance from October 1996 through December 2004.

"I was extremely honored and excited when I heard the news," Phillips said. "I'm certain there were many qualified applicants. I have always had fun learning new bowling skills and bowling in my Saturday morning league for the past nine years."

Phillips attends St. Mary's Springs High School and will be valedictorian of the 2010 class that graduates in June. He has a 4.27 grade-point average based on a 4.0 scale. He is a member of the National Honor Society and was named Most Outstanding Student in the areas of Social Studies, Mathematics, English, Theology, Vocal Music and Health.

Phillips is an Eagle Scout and served as a mentor to younger Boy Scouts as part of the Senior Patrol Leader Program. For his Eagle Scout project, he collected more than 2,900 unserviceable flags and organized a formal flag retirement ceremony that included representation from the U.S. Congress, Wisconsin state legislature, county and city governments, as well as representatives from the American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, and the Marine Corps League.

"Joe's capability to organize and effectively communicate as well as lead diverse elements were the reason for the success of this most needed and dignified ceremony," Marcus Oksa of the Wisconsin American Legion said in his recommendation letter. "This is only one example of the countless wonderful things Joe does in the community on a regular basis."

Through his church, Phillips has been on youth mission trips where he has assisted in hurricane relief in Mississippi and painted homes on an Indian reservation in Minnesota.

"I know that throughout my future academic and career journeys I will continue to volunteer because there is a certain gratifying feeling," Phillips said.

Phillips will attend the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire in the fall. He plans to have a double-major in major in choral and general music education with an emphasis in voice and piano.

Phillips will receive a $2,500 scholarship which will be formally presented at the USBC Junior Gold Championships award presentation July 16 in Indianapolis.

Annual Zeb Scholarship Award winners
2005 Katelyn Spangler, Renton, Wash.
2006 Nicole Miller, Petaluma, Calif.
2007 Jacob Greene, Oilton, Okla.
2008 Natalie Demarko, Brunswick, Ga.
2009 Elizabeth Donahoe, Ardsley, Pa.
2010 Joe Phillips, Fond du Lac, Wis.