Craig Howell HONORED SENIORS – Basil's Sports Bar, in Weirton, held a luncheon Wednesday, presenting the restaurant's annual scholarship to Indian Creek's Sylus Hyde and Buckeye Local's Jenna DelVecchio. Each graduating senior received $1,000 to put toward their college career, with funds for the scholarship derived through the sale of hot dogs at the restaurant.

WEIRTON — An area restaurant is continuing its tradition of supporting local graduating high school athletes as they prepare to begin their collegiate careers.

Basil’s Sports Bar and Grill held a luncheon Wednesday to award its annual scholarship to two high school seniors.

“We’re excited about this program,” owner Pete Basil said. “This is our eighth year.”

This year’s recipients are Sylus Hyde of Indian Creek and Jenna DelVecchio of Buckeye Local. Each received a $1,000 check and a certificate. Their names also have been added to a set of plaques hanging in the restaurant’s Dugout area, joining previous scholarship recipients dating to the program’s start in 2019.

Hyde is the first Indian Creek student to receive the scholarship. A member of the school’s baseball team, he plans to attend Ashland University to continue playing baseball and major in biology with a goal of becoming a physical therapist.

“It means a lot,” Hyde said of receiving the scholarship. “I’m grateful to get this support.”

DelVecchio is the second student from Buckeye Local to receive the award.

A member of the school’s track and field team, she plans to attend Youngstown State University, where she will major in nursing while continuing her athletic career.

“It means so much to me,” DelVecchio said of the scholarship. “It’s definitely going to help with college.”

Basil explained the scholarship began as a way for the restaurant to give back for the support it has received from the community.

Any student-athlete in Brooke or Hancock counties in West Virginia or Jefferson County in Ohio is eligible to apply. Students must have participated in sports in high school and plan to attend college.

“This year, we had 64 applications,” Basil said, explaining a committee reviews each application, as well as required essays focused on how athletics helped prepare students for their future.

Funds for the scholarship are generated through sales of hot dogs featured on the restaurant’s menu.

“A percentage of all hot dog sales go to the scholarship,” he said, adding the restaurant typically goes through three cases of hot dogs each week.

Basil noted the restaurant’s menu features a standard hot dog, along with specialty hot dogs themed after 10 area high schools.