About the Dr. Chuma Ononye Scholarship Fund for Girls:

Established in November 2010, the Dr. Chuma Ononye Scholarship Fund for Girls was created to afford soccer-playing opportunities for girls who might not otherwise have the means to play the sport. Created by Gaston United Soccer Club for Dr. Ononye, who passed away Nov. 13, 2010, the scholarship fund benefits girls because Dr. Ononyehadtwo daughters, Adaora and Nneka, who play soccer, and also because he was an avid fan of the game.

What the Dr. Chuma Ononye Scholarship Fund for Girls includes:

 - Eligible recipients will receive remission of club dues for 1 full season
 - Eligible recipients will receive a full kit (uniform, socks and a ball)

About Dr. Chuma Ononye:

Dr. Ononye was born on Dec. 23, 1961, in Glasgow, Scotland, a son of the late Dr. Lawrence Azubike Ononye and Joyce Chikelu Akpom. Dr. Ononye received his high school education at Federal Government College, Warri, in Delta State Warri, Nigeria, and at St. Joseph’s School in Dumfries, Scotland. He obtained his B.S. from the University of London and subsequently went to the Royal College of Surgeons in Dublin, Ireland, where he obtained medical degrees from the National University of Ireland.

Dr. Ononye came to the United States to complete his residency training in Internal Medicine and Emergency Medicine at the University of Illinois at Chicago. He was among the first group of physicians trained in this double certification program. After his residency training, he went back to England, but after a short stay, he was off again, this time to the Royal Adelaide Hospital in Australia. He worked for a year in Australia, where he met his wife-to-be, Lisa Jane Thompson.

Dr. Ononye returned to the United States, and Lisa joined him in Waycross, Ga., and they were married. They then moved to Gastonia, where Dr. Ononye was employed by Emcare. He was an active member of Queen of the Apostles Catholic Church, and a proud member of the Association of Nigerian Physicians in America and Gaston United Soccer Club (GUSC), and was a regular player with other GUSC dads and coaches.

A diehard Arsenal fan in the Premier League, Dr. Ononye loved to watch and play “the beautiful game,” and was fond of saying, “Let the ball do the work!”

Contributing to the Dr. Chuma Ononye Scholarship Fund for Girls:

To make a tax-deductible contribution to the Dr. Chuma Ononye Scholarship Fund for Girls, send a payment to Gaston United Soccer Club. (Please write “Dr. Ononye Scholarship Fund for Girls” in the memo line.) Payments should be mailed to Gaston United Soccer Club, 3434 S. New Hope Rd., Gastonia, NC 28056. One-hundred percent of all contributions will go to the Dr. Chuma Ononye Scholarship Fund for Girls.

How to Apply for the Dr. Chuma Ononye Scholarship Fund for Girls:

A prospective applicant should submit an essay—not to exceed 500 words—explaining why she would make a good candidate for the scholarship fund, and what soccer means to her. Please include such pertinent information as Grade Point Average, educational achievements and community service activities. Recipients will be chosen by a committee consisting of representatives from Gaston United Soccer Club and the Ononye family. Essays should be mailed to Gaston United Soccer Club, 3434 S. New Hope Rd., Gastonia, NC 28056, or sent via email to GUSCChumaFund@Gmail.com.