Sports

Van Alstyne lands presitgious Higgins Scholarship

By Bill Kipouras
Staff writer
Published: July 3, 2009

The annual Paul Higgins Scholarship, named in honor of the legendary teacher, coach, athletic director and assistant principal at Salem High School, means more than just having good grades and athletic ability.

When Higgins' family — wife Janice, daughter Maryellen and sons Mark, Tom and Jimmy — first discussed the idea of a scholarship in his name at Salem High, they felt it should be presented along the lines of the family patriarch's character. That meant finding a student-athlete each year who fit the criteria of being a good person, someone who is caring, a good citizen, and a good sport, yet who also qualified for need.

"It's not for a Grade A student, a Grade A athlete or a Grade A anything. It's for essentially for having the qualities of our father," Bates School principal Mark Higgins explained.

Melikke Van Alstyne fit those qualties perfectly, enough so that the Salem High football record holder was this year's recipient of the $10,000 scholarship.

"We want you know this is not for being a great football player; that's important for you to understand," Mark Higgins told Van Alstyne, who considered himself "very lucky" to receive such a handsome award.

The Salem High School principal, David Angeramo, Athletic Director and football coach Scott Connolly and Higgins were keys in the selection, but all faculty and coaches at Salem High were eligible in the voting process.

Van Alstyne's tuition costs and some other scholarships will cut his finances considerably at Bridgton Academy in Bridgton, Maine, where he will spend a year attending prep school before heading off to college.

"What Mr. Higgins told me about football not being a factor in this made me very happy because I was judged as the person I am, not as an athlete," Van Alstyne said.

"Myself, I think we had other kids at the high school who were leaders, male and female, who could have received the scholarship. It's great to be recognized. I'll always appreciate it and look back on it (with pride)."

A three-year superstar on the gridiron at Salem High and a two-year team captain, Van Alstyne graduated as the leading rusher in the 118-year history of the football program. A three-time Salem News all-star rushed for 3,853 total yards on 611 carries (also a school record) for an average of 6.3 yards per carry. His 42 career touchdowns are also best in SHS history.

Having rushed for over 1,000 yards in each of his three varsity seasons, Van Alstyne had 1,624 yards and 18 touchdowns for the Witches last fall. His last game might have been the best of his career, when he ran for a school record 302 yards and four scores as Salem upset heavily favored Beverly on Thanksgiving Day.

Van Alstyne tied for the North Shore lead in both touchdowns and total points (114) in 2008. Also an outstanding defensive back, he won Northeastern Conference North Player of the Year honors and was a two-time team MVP.

He also was a standout in the 100 meters on the track team, finishing in the state's top 10.

"Melikke is one of the most coachable kids I've ever had," said Connolly. "He rushed for over 1,000 yards in his first full varsity season and could have become uncoachable, a kid with a big head. Instead, he was the exact opposite — besides being a great teammate and someone who helped the younger kids. He was one of the most popular and most respected students in the school."

Past Higgins Scholarships winners were Thomas Long, UMass Amherst; Dennis Murtagh, Merrimack, and Susan Barnes, UMass Lowell.