Scholarships

It’s All About the Kids

Bowling volunteer helps kids earn college money.

(Back row, from left) Coach Karyn Coffey, Alyssa Burks, Coach Lucy Delmore, Ryan Heaton, Rilie Delmore, Coach James Delmore, (middle) Jacob Delmore, (front row, from left) Destiny Gaps, Victoria Robinson and Xzavier Delmore.

Seven years ago, the youth bowling league that Lucy Delmore’s granddaughter belonged to was at risk of disbanding. The woman who was managing the league at the time was moving out of state. Rather than lose the opportunity for the kids, Lucy stepped in to take over.

Under the direction of the feisty Lucy, who the kids call Lulu, the league gained a strong advocate. Lucy has been involved in bowling for 45 years. Now, nearing age 70, she serves as a board member for the Central New Mexico United States Bowling Congress (USBC), and was inducted into their Hall of Fame for Meritorious Service in August 2018.

But it’s not about the recognition, Lucy says. “It’s about the love and enjoyment I feel every time I help a bowler or make a new friend. I have met some of the most amazing people, and I will always dedicate time to the sport of bowling.”

Her dedication is helping local youth earn money for college. She operates a sanctioned youth league at Starlight Lanes in Bernalillo. Instead of keeping some of the money for administrative duties, as some league secretaries do, Lucy sends that portion of each week’s bowling fees to the USBC “SMART Fund.” The SMART Fund holds the monies in each child’s account until five years after their high school graduation. The young bowlers can earn more money for their accounts by bowling in sanctioned league tournaments, placing in tournaments, logging high-scoring games and high-scoring series. “Every single child gets scholarship money. No one goes without,” Lucy says. Lucy’s own granddaughter, now age 12, has earned about $1,200 in her scholarship account.

Five years after graduation, if the child has not used the scholarship funds for continuing education — including trade schools — the money goes back into the fund to help other kids.

Children age 5 to 18 can participate in Lucy’s youth league — even bumper bowlers. “We encourage them to have their own equipment, because it’s easier to improve when you’re using equipment you’re familiar with,” she says. So, Lucy solicits donations of bowling balls, shoes and bags for her kids.

“It’s all about the kids,” she says.

Youth league bowling coaches Karyn Coffey and Lucy Delmore

Volunteers do not necessarily have the time; they just have the heart.

- Elizabeth Andrew