West Branch basketball player's discipline spawns Students to Solders act

BELOIT

It’s probably safe to say that 17-year-old Courtney Papic’s achievements will continue to pile up for the remainder of her senior year at West Branch High School.

Nevertheless, the most-enduring aspect of her school legacy may lie in what began as a single negative experience that she plans to use to benefit other students.

“It hurt a little bit,” said Courtney, a member of the school’s girls basketball team, referring to her being benched for a game Feb. 8 against South Range because she had missed two practices and a previous game, which conflicted with a commitment she had with the Air Force Reserves at the Youngstown Air Reserve Station in Vienna.

After having to watch the game from the bleachers, Courtney told her father, Scott Papic, and it wasn’t long before word reached state Rep. John Boccieri of Poland, D-59th.

As a result, Boccieri, who served about 20 years in the Air Force Reserves and the Air National Guard, has co-sponsored the Students to Soldiers Support Act, which he discussed during a news conference Thursday at the school, 14277 S. Main St.

Read what the proposed act says in Friday's Vindicator or on Vindy.com.