Will Allen

The Bemus Point Historical Society has named William Allen as the recipient of the 2020 Mary Jane Stahley Award.

Allen was named class salutatorianand earned an Advanced Regents Diploma with honors in both math and science. While at Maple Grove, William was selected as the captain of the High School Bowl team and has been a member of the National Honor Society since his freshman year; he also participated in band, chorus, the Maple Grove Voices, and school musicals. His vocal honors included NYSSMA Solo Fest and All-State. Allen’s musical talents earned him the Helga Hulse Mozart Club Music Award and the Ruth S. Dodds Memorial Music Scholarship.

William participated in Maple Grove’s cross county, soccer and tennis teams, winning for the later a Scholar Athlete Award.

Besides his achievements at Maple Grove, Allen was involved in the Conference Council on Youth Ministry for the New York United Methodist Church. Throughout his years in the Bemus Point area, he served as a youth leader in the Bemus Point United Methodist Church where he also participated in the Youth Group Band, the Bible Quizzing Team, the Evangelical Team, the Adult Daycare at the Christ First United Methodist Church, and St. Susan’s Soup Kitchen.

William Allen is the son of Bill and Kristen Allen. He will attend Houghton College in the fall where he will major in history in pursuit of a career as a funeral home director.

The Mary Jane Stahley Award is awarded to a Maple Grove senior each year by the Bemus Point Historical Society. The award honors Mrs. Stahley, the great granddaughter of Alonzo Felton (1818-1902), a pioneer settler of Bemus Point. Mary Jane Stahley served as the librarian of the Bemus Point Library for 50 years, Bemus Point Historian and was a founder of the Bemus Point Historical Society in 1997. The historical society raises money each year by holding a garage sale of donated items to help defray expenses for a graduating Maple Grove Senior who is pursuing a career in history, political science, or a related field. This year’s event is tentatively scheduled for August 22.