Oneonta High School senior Liam Casey has been selected as the 2026 recipient of the prestigious Ricky J. Parisian Memorial Scholarship, one of the highest honors awarded to an OHS student.
The surprise announcement was made on May 20 during a special gathering attended by members of the Parisian family, representatives of the Ricky J. Parisian Memorial Scholarship Foundation, New York State Police officials, OHS administrators, and Liam's father. The date holds special significance, marking the anniversary of Ricky Parisian's death in the line of duty on May 20, 1994.
Presented by David Brower, a member of the Ricky J. Parisian Memorial Scholarship Foundation Board of Directors and a scholarship recipient himself, the award recognizes students who exemplify the same character, integrity, compassion, and commitment to others that defined Ricky Parisian's life.
"Liam is an exceptional young man whose character is defined by kindness, humility, and an unwavering commitment to others," Brower said during the presentation. "What truly sets Liam apart is the resilience and maturity he has shown through personal adversity while continuing to excel academically, serve others, and lead by example."
A standout student, Casey has maintained a perfect average in the New Visions Engineering program while earning recognition as an AP Scholar, National Honor Society member, Carson Scholar, and Oneonta High School's student representative to the Board of Education. As an Eagle Scout, he has dedicated countless hours to community service and leadership, mentoring younger scouts and giving back to his community.
OHS Principal Kevin Stevens praised Casey's impact on the school community and the example he has set for others.
"Liam has grown into a strong, positive presence throughout his high school career," Stevens said. "He is dedicated, reliable, and competitive, while also embracing the role of supportive classmate and teammate. Liam can always be counted on to be in the right place at the right time and doing the right thing."
Stevens also highlighted Casey's academic accomplishments, noting his cumulative weighted grade point average of 100.4 and his recent achievement as the 2026 New York State Leadership and Skills Conference Gold Medalist in Related Technical Math. Casey will represent New York State at the national SkillsUSA competition in Atlanta, Georgia, before heading to Cornell University this fall to pursue a degree in engineering.
Established in memory of Ricky J. Parisian, a Oneonta High School graduate and New York State Police investigator, the scholarship is unique because students cannot apply for it. Instead, recipients are nominated by the high school and selected by the Foundation's Board of Directors based on qualities that reflect Parisian's legacy, including integrity, responsibility, kindness, respect, loyalty, leadership, and service to others.
The scholarship provides recipients with financial support throughout their undergraduate studies and, in some cases, continued assistance for graduate education. Following the announcement, Casey expressed his gratitude to the many people who have supported him throughout his journey.
"This is truly an honor," Casey said. "I owe so much to the school and everybody in this building who has helped me. I couldn't have done any of these things without the support of the people here. I couldn't imagine going to school anywhere else. I love helping out, and I love being a part of this community."
As Casey prepares to graduate and begin the next chapter of his academic career at Cornell University, he joins a distinguished group of scholarship recipients whose lives and actions reflect the enduring legacy of Ricky J. Parisian.
Congratulations, Liam, on this well-deserved honor and on representing Oneonta High School with excellence, character, and compassion.
GO 'JACKETS!
