Grosserode Memorial Scholarship Awarded to Pius X Senior Thomas Hoefener
Thomas Hoefener, a senior wide receiver and defensive back for Pius X, was awarded the Matt Grosserode Memorial Scholarship during the school’s annual Fall Kickoff celebration held on August 22, 2014. The scholarship was founded in 2005 by the late John Grosserode ’78 and his wife Joann ’78 in memory of their son Matt, a 2000 graduate of Pius X High School, who passed away in a car accident in 2003. The $500 scholarship is awarded each year to a senior football player attending Pius X, who is faithful to God, loving to family and loyal to friends, just as Matt was.
When the scholarship award was announced in front of the student body, faculty, and Pius X families,
Hoefener’s teammates cheered him on as he walked over to hug Matt Grosserode’s mother, Joann. She presented the scholarship awardee with a certificate to keep, and handed him the plaque denoting all the past recipients of the memorial scholarship. Hoefener is the 12th recipient listed on the memorial plaque that permanently resides in the Pius X press box. Recipients are not aware that they have been selected prior to the announcement at Fall Kickoff.
Hoefener, son of Pat and Michelle Hoefener of Cathedral of the Risen Christ parish, was born in Lincoln and attended Cathedral grade school, where his younger sister Katherine is in the 1st grade. He also plays varsity baseball at Pius X and is involved in Godteens. He is considering pursuing a major in business and will be applying to a number of colleges and universities over the next few months.
Applicants for the Matt Grosserode scholarship award are asked to write a brief essay relating how their faith and experience as a Pius student athlete has helped shape their future. “Being an athlete at Pius is not an easy task,” Hoefener reflected in his essay. “Going to school, going to practice, and then coming and doing homework are very challenging, but I wouldn’t want it any other way.” He also shared valuable life lessons he has learned from his coaches at Pius X. “They have taught me to be a man; how to conquer victory and accept failure. They’ve shown me how to battle through adversity; how to feel defeated and still find a way to win. But of course none of this could be done without God.”
Hoefener felt moved and humbled upon hearing his name announced as the scholarship winner. “It was a pretty cool feeling,” Hoefener reflects. “It is a great opportunity and I’m very appreciative of receiving this award. It is an honor to be a part of this scholarship and the legacy it has at Pius X.”
Matt Grosserode was born on June 19, 1981 in Daytona Beach, Florida. His family moved back to Lincoln when he was in first grade where he attended Catholic grade schools and then Pius X High School. Matt was a junior in college at Iowa State University at the time of his death on August 6, 2003. During his years at Pius X, he was an honor student, a standout football player and a member of the track team. After graduating from Pius, he went on to play football at Iowa State University earning Academic All Big 12 Honor. Matt lived his life being faithful to God, loving to his family and loyal to his friends.
PHOTO: Courtesy of the Pius X Yearbook staff.
