When Brogan Raddish passed away from Ewing’s Sarcoma cancer at the age of 14 in 2009, her 10-year-old friend said a prayer at her funeral that didn’t leave a dry eye at the service.

Seven years later, Jarrod Bosley, who said the prayer for Brogan that overwhelmed everyone attending the service, was chosen for the 2016 Brogan Raddish Scholarship given annually to a Fairmont West senior.

Brogan’s final school year was at Fairmont West after five years at White Hall Elementary.

Brogan’s grandmother, Dietta Harden Goush, Class of 1959, recalls the moment at Brogan’s funeral that reached into everyone's heart:

“Jarrod was a family friend and a fishing and camping buddy for Brogan. He prayed for us at her funeral in front of a packed church inside and outside that day. His heartfelt prayer brought tears to the eyes of the toughest of us.

“He told his dad that he knew how to start the prayer and how to end it but God was going to fill in the rest of it. I felt very good about giving him this award. Since you made a donation I felt you would be interested.”

As for the other Brogan Scholarship recipients:

Adrianna Constable, who got a Brogan in 2014, is going for a master’s in business. Adrianna’s mother is Jacqueline Constable.

Adrianna “makes the (Brogan winner) announcement for me," said Dietta, an assistant teacher at North Central Community Action, “becaus I still can’t stand in front of the students without a grandma cry, and they don’t need that.”

Holly Bogdanich, who got the 2015 Brogan, went into pediatric nursing after her Fairmont State schooling. Her parents are Darleta Bogdanich and George Bogdanich.

Abby Wadsworth, who got the 2017 Brogan, also received two Shepherd University scholarships.

Brianna Woodburn, Brogan’s best friend, got the 2013 Brogan and went to Marshall University.  She is a pediatric radiologist.

Dietta has raised more than $10,000 for the Brogan scholarships. If you want to donate, as I did, make the check out to the Brogan Raddish Memorial Scholarship and mail it to Dietta at:

Dietta Harden Goush

675 Cottage Street
Monongah, WV 26554

Dietta sells Paparazzi jewelry online and jewelry and T-shirts at various events for the Brogan Scholarship fundraising.

Fairmont West High handles the money and writes the checks to the scholarship winners.

Brogan’s parents are Marcie Goush Raddish of Monongah and Mark Raddish of Fairmont.

The Brogan Camille Raddish playground is next to the Rails of Trails by the Monongah town parking lot.