Retiring Educator Establishes Scholarship to Help Students Pursue their Goals

Sean Swan-Leuze, with his wife Jen

After nearly three decades spent encouraging young people to keep moving forward, longtime physical education instructor Sean Swan-Leuze is making sure that encouragement continues well beyond his retirement. The family of Swan-Leuze, in recognition of his retirement after 29 years as an educator, has established the Sean Swan-Leuze Scholarship Fund at the Chautauqua Region Community Foundation to support graduating seniors from Southwestern Central School as they continue their education after high school.

The scholarship will recognize students who have overcome adversity while demonstrating a positive outlook and determination to move forward. For Swan-Leuze, those qualities are especially meaningful.

“I’m a pretty happy person and have always tried to see the glass half full,” Swan-Leuze said. “I’ve known a lot of great students in the past who have been on the bubble in terms of affording college, and I hope this scholarship can be the help they need. I’ve seen students go on to do great things with a little help, be it college or workforce training.”

While retirement will bring his time as a classroom educator to a close, he has no intention of turning away from his role as an encourager.

Swan-Leuze, who taught physical education at both Southwestern Central School and Randolph Academy, currently lives with Jen, his wife of 30 years and their daughters Hadyn, Hannah, and Heidi. Living with ALS, Swan-Leuze intends to remain active through motivational speaking at schools and other venues. His message will focus on something he has valued throughout his career and experienced personally: the ability to face adversity without allowing it to define what comes next.

That same belief is at the heart of his scholarship. Swan-Leuze hopes to recognize not simply where a student has been, but where they have the potential to go.

“When Sean’s family reached out about recognizing his career with this Fund, we were honored to help define the scholarship selection criteria,” said Tory Irgang, Executive Director. “We look forward to announcing the first recipient next June.”

To learn more about the Sean Swan-Leuze Scholarship Fund or to make a contribution, visit crcfonline.org or contact the Chautauqua Region Community Foundation at (716) 661-3390.