Susan and Terry Poklar need not worry their son, Bret, will be forgotten.
Year after year, the Poklar Memorial Scholarship continues to grow.
Mentor's Mason Trubisky and Megan Biddell, South's Brenna Yerse and Michael Porter, Lake Catholic's Andrew Druzina and Conor McCrone, VASJ's Andrew Oriani and Kirtland's Joey Torok were honored at Lost Nation Golf Course on May 11 as the 2019 recipients of Poklar Memorial Scholarships.
"That people still care about Bret and want to support him and keep his memory alive," Susan Poklar said, "I know it's a cliché. But it means to world to us."
The scholarships were presented at a benefit Poklar estimates more than 400 people attended. The event included a Chinese auction, pig roast and raffles. Donations included autographed memorabilia from Mitchell Trubisky, Andy Isabella, Urban Meyer, LeBron James, Baker Mayfield, Bernie Kosar and Corey Kluber.
Among other items available through the auction and raffle were a refrigerator provided by MFS Supply, a $1,500 paddleboard and a $1,500 gift card to Vollbracht Furriers at Beachwood Mall.
Poklar said 139 people participated in the golf outing, held in the morning May 11. Prizes available through the outing included a set of golf clubs, a cruise and a set of YETI coolers. If someone recorded a hole-in-one on the 16th hole, the golfer would have won a new truck courtesy of Kepich Ford.
Poklar has also been in contact with Honor Brewing, a brewery based in Virginia. The company is designing taps that will feature Bret Poklar's dog tags and his photo will be featured on cans of the brewery's next session run.
After the student-athletes were presented with their scholarships, Susan Poklar was presented with the Honor and Remember Flag in memory of her son. The flags are presented to families of fallen service men and women.
Biddell, a goalkeeper on Mentor's soccer team, plans to attend Lake Erie. She and Trubisky were voted the Cardinals' homecoming queen and king during the fall, and were honored to represent their school in Bret Poklar's memory.
"I know he was an athlete and we were both athletes," Biddell said. "It's really nice to be able to participate in something that I know he loved and we both loved, and be able to carry on his legacy."
Mason Trubisky and Megan Biddell of @MentorAthletics discuss the meaning of being among the recipients of the 2019 Bret Poklar Memorial Scholarships. pic.twitter.com/8lVOxubDiQ
- Nate Barnes (@NateBarnes_) May 11, 2019
Trubisky recently committed to John Carroll to play basketball after he was a standout for Mentor's football and basketball teams.
"(The scholarship) means a lot," Trubisky said. "We didn't know him, obviously. But just to be welcomed here to honor him and his memory and, in turn, this honorary scholarship, it means a lot. I'm just honored to be here today to help recognize this and his life that definitely had an impact on many people."
Druzina, who played soccer and baseball at Lake Catholic, plans to attend Xavier. He holds a connection to Poklar, having played three years for Poklar's high school baseball coach - Dennis Woods.
"He was under coach Woods," Druzina said. "He fought for our country, he had determination, he had wit. Everything you need as a person and an athlete, Ms. Poklar said, she's just looking for people in the community that will do well."
Torok, in whom Poklar said she sees resemblance to her son, is a standout on the Hornets' football and baseball teams. He plans to attend John Carroll to play football.
"It's an honor to be receiving this award," Torok said. "Especially when we show up, there's so many to support this foundation and everything. It's important to all these people, so it's important to us as well. It means a lot."