BUCHANAN — The late Jason Arnold was known by family and friends for his giving spirit and his passion for mentoring youth through his coaching of sports and dedication in the classroom as a teacher.

Following his untimely death at 49 in 2010, his family and friends have banded together to remember Arnold’s legacy and give back like he did to area youth.

In his honor, the Jason Arnold Memorial Golf Outing took place Saturday, June 23, at Brookwood Golf Course in Buchanan. The event attracted nearly 100 participants and raised just under $4,000 for youth scholarships.

Each year, Arnold’s family and friends select a Niles and Buchanan youth to award with a scholarship. 

This year’s selected scholarship recipients were Selena Martinez, a Buchanan High School graduate and daughter of Jackie and Jason Ward, and Zayne Neumann, a Niles High School graduate and son to Erica and Scott Neumann. Martinez plans to attend Michigan State, while Neumann plans to attend Grand Valley State University. The students were chosen out of 31 applicants for their dedication to helping their communities.

Freida Arnold, Arnold’s mom, said she was happy to see so many people turn out once again for the JAM event.

“It was really nice,” Freida said. “It was successful, and everyone had a great time.”

Perhaps one of the largest testaments to Arnold’s impact on his community is the number of friends and family who continue to help with the JAM Golf Outing in his memory. Arnold’s former Buchanan neighbors Robert and Jeanne Blank and their daughter Courtney are one example of this. Both volunteer to assist with the event. Frieda also the various other volunteers who help and Brookwood Golf Course.

Arnold was a 1979 graduate of Niles High School. Arnold had been helping to repair the roof of Niles church when he fell and died from his injuries. He left behind his wife Karen and son and daughter, Dylan and Alexis.

Freida and her husband Dale Arnold said their son was known for his efforts to make the Berrien County community a better place. He attended Albion College, earning a bachelor’s degree in physical education and communication. He was also an all-state athlete and sought to inspire a similar passion for sports through his work as youth basketball and soccer coach. Arnold’s family said you could see this same love and dedication to mentor youth through his career as a teacher.

“He loved to work with kids,” Freida said. “He was a special education teacher and the kids all loved him in his classroom.”

Shortly after his death, his family started the JAM Golf Outing in his memory. It took several years to raise enough money to fund $1,000 scholarships. Since its inception, the event has raised close to $15,000 in scholarship funds.   

“We are really grateful for his friends and supporters,” Frieda said. “It means a lot to us that people remember Jason for these reasons.”