CL South graduate wins 1st Randy Salerno scholarship

CRYSTAL LAKE – Dan Vasko never got a chance to meet Randy Salerno, but he hopes to emulate the late CBS broadcaster’s career.

“I watched him all the time.

“He was able to balance both his career as a broadcaster with his family life,” said Vasko, who recently graduated from Crystal Lake South High School. “That’s the thing I’ll always strive to do.”

Vasko, 18, was chosen as the first recipient of the Randy Salerno scholarship, awarded to students at Crystal Lake South who are pursuing a career in broadcast journalism.

“We wanted to keep Randy’s memory alive and continue his legacy, especially here in the town he grew up in,” said Irene Salerno, Randy’s widow.

The Randy Salerno Foundation, which was created after Salerno died in a snowmobile accident in January 2008, will award Vasko $500 to put toward college.

Vasko will attend Salerno’s alma mater, Illinois State University, in the fall.

“It’s not even about the money, really,” Vasko said. “It’s just that they made the scholarship in his honor, and for me to be able to receive it is just something I feel very grateful for.”

The foundation raises money through donations and events to promote the responsibility that broadcast journalists have to serve their communities. It offers financial assistance to local students who exemplify the qualities that Salerno personified.

In addition to Crystal Lake South, the foundation offered a scholarship to students at Illinois State. The scholarships will continue to be awarded annually at both schools.

Vasko, who wants to be a sportscaster, said Salerno was a great role model in the community.

“He’s definitely a great inspiration to me, and I hope to one day be as successful in my career, but also to have just as good of a family life as he did,” he said.