GREAT FALLS -- When David Delcomte passed away tragically in July he left a giant void in the Great Falls CMR senior class.
But his friends, family and classmates continue to find ways to keep his memory alive and his legacy strong.
CMR HOSA set up a memorial scholarship in Delcomte's honor, and Thursday during the crosstown boys basketball game members of the group, alongside members of the football team and student council, will be selling shirts, rally towels and lanyards emblazoned with the No. 42 - Delcomte's jersey number in football - to help raise funds to make the scholarship sustainable.
“David has lots of strong characteristics,” said CMR senior and HOSA member Kendra Moore. “He was hard-working, honorable and caring. We came up with a catchphrase, ‘Dreams, Diligence and David,’ and so the scholarship is really just thinking of the things he did and bringing out those characteristics in others.”
Delcomte was a key member of the football team, but he was so much more than that.
“He was a friend, he was a son, he was someone that everyone can look up to,” said CMR senior Gloria Beldevia. “We want to use this scholarship to encourage everyone to emulate his characteristics and be more like him. Remembering him through this scholarship is going to be a big thing, not just for the class of 2020, but for all future classes, as well.”
The $1,000 scholarship will be rewarded annually to a student at CMR or Great Falls High who exemplifies the ideals, traits and characteristics that Delcomte embodied. Delcomte’s parents, Jenette and John, will be on the committee that selects the recipient.
“I think the characteristics that David exhibited are the characteristics that we want everyone to exhibit,” said HOSA adviser Christi Virts. “He was just a leader on and off the field and if we encourage others to replicate those and be proud of helping others – it will be a great legacy for David and his parents to carry on.”
Thursday’s crosstown basketball game begins at 7 p.m. and will also feature a gift basket raffle and a miracle minute at halftime.
