05/26/2026
From Ms. Block
I am spending the last hours of my first year back at West Central going through old files and deciding what to keep and what to pitch. This is dangerous work, because it sets me up to come across things like this.
This article at appeared in the Oelwein paper in 2012 hung out here at West Central for a few years, made the trip to Kee High for eight, and then found its way back home to West Central again.
Trevor was just six years old when the communities of both Waukon and West Central reached out and showered our family with love, prayers, and support — both emotional and financial.
Looking at this article now, I think it is high time that I let you all know that our family has never forgotten this outpouring.
The following year, I had the idea to start a scholarship called “Trevor’s Treasures” that we would award to one West Central student and one Waukon student as a way to “pay it forward.”
I thought we would do this for a few years, until Trevor got to the point where he was too embarrassed or no longer interested in raising funds and awarding the scholarship.
Well folks, that never happened.
Although the West Central high schoolers who were involved in planning the fun run graduated, and life got in the way of us making it back to West Central every year, Trevor continued the scholarship at Waukon and was proud to award the final scholarship of his school years a couple of weeks ago to a deserving classmate.
At that same awards night, an anonymous donor surprised Trevor with a “Pay it Back” scholarship in a very special presentation.
Many people do not know that Trevor was clearly NOT on board with his surgery as time was getting close.
At the time of this fun run, I was in a battle of wits with a very intelligent and well-spoken six-year-old who was proclaiming that he would be opting OUT of this already scheduled surgery. While I argued that I wasn’t sure he was equipped at age six to make such a decision, his trepidation definitely gave me pause.
I suggested that we keep all options open, which allowed him to feel like he had some autonomy while I prayed for clarity.
The day after he saw ALL of the people — strangers to him — who were willing to support him, he came to me and said, “I think I will go ahead and have that surgery.” 😅
To this day, Trevor talks about how experiencing that kind of support gave him the confidence he needed to feel good about the surgery and all of the work that he knew would follow.
I hope that if you were a part of this fun run in any way, you are reading this. Who knows where the “Trevor’s Treasures” scholarships will go from here as Trev heads off to college in the fall.
Regardless, the lesson is simple: Kindness begets kindness, and that never goes away. Your actions fourteen years ago set off a chain of events that has touched many lives.
Thank you is not enough.
It's been a great year - it's so good to be home!
— Kathleen Block
PS - As the article predicted and following recovery, Trevor did participate in wrestling - all the way up through his senior season.
