Love for grandchildren, basketball sparks new Butler High scholarship
Dan and Cindy Musko, of Butler Township, could have taken a very fancy vacation or added on to their home, but instead, the humble and family-oriented couple decided to use their money to honor their grandchildren and enhance educational opportunities for Butler Senior High varsity basketball players.
The couple will provide the Golden Tornado Scholastic Foundation with $5,000 per year for 15 years for the Golden Tornado Boys and Girls Basketball Scholarship.
One male and one female player on the varsity basketball teams at Butler Senior High School will receive $2,500 to help pay for their postsecondary education.
The Muskos said recipients are not restricted to enrollment in a four-year university, but can use the money for a vocational, technical or trade school, or a community or junior college.
Cindy Musko explained that all three of their grandchildren played sports all their lives, and their eldest grandson, Ethan Morton, Class of 2020, was a standout basketball player at Butler Senior High.
Ethan went on to play hoops for Purdue University and will play for Colorado State University while he pursues a graduate degree.
“We had the money in an account that we were not going to use,” she said. “We are so conscious of trying to help young kids in their academic career, then we tied it to the basketball program because that’s where we wanted to focus our attention.”
The passion for basketball shown by the couple’s son, Ryan Morton, and his son, Ethan, was a deciding factor in donating the scholarship money.
“Ryan said honoring his kids is great, but it’s more important to reward the recipients, who not only love and are passionate about the game, but are also good people,” Cindy Musko said.
Dan Musko was president and CEO at Lifesteps for more than 25 years, and Cindy was an elementary school teacher for 27 years in several Butler Area School District buildings.
Cindy also worked on the Slippery Rock University faculty after her retirement from teaching, including as supervisor of student teaching requirements at SRU.
The Muskos were born, raised and educated in Butler County, and since their careers focused on educating and serving the needs of children and adults in the immediate community and surrounding counties, the scholarship seemed like a natural progression for them.
The couple stresses that the scholarship also honors grandchildren Brynn and Noah, who are Ethan’s siblings, as they also have demonstrated athleticism and academic excellence through elementary and high school, as well as college.
The scholarship also honors Ryan and his wife, Cindy, for their commitment and dedication to basketball as well as lifelong learning.
Cindy said the scholarship could continue past the 15-year, $75,000 time frame if it proves popular and helps students pursue their post high school dreams.
“Ethan even mentioned that he may take it over in future years,” Cindy said.
