Video, scholarship perpetuate Holley’s legacy at Liberty

Liberty Middle School eighth-graders nominated for the Torrell Holley Spirit Award stand with Torrell’s father, Charlie Holley (fourth from right). (CONTRIBUTED)

MADISON – A student-produced video and $2,000 memorial scholarship will allow the legacy of Torrell Holley to live for many years at Liberty Middle School.

In 2001, 13-year-old Torrell Holley died from cardiac arrest while playing basketball in the Liberty gym. “The autopsy concluded a rare heart condition, ARVD (arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia),” his father Charlie Holley said.

“The video was a group effort,” drama and digital communications teacher Courtney Elrod said. Elrod and her digital communications class, Charlie Holley and Liberty Assistant Principal Jamie Golliver collaborated on producing the video.

“I asked for and received input from our other administrators and my colleagues throughout the process,” Elrod said.

All students viewed the video on Liberty’s in-house, televised morning show. “Charlie Holley and I agreed that (former Liberty teacher) Rodney Schrimsher had to be a part of the video, because he tells Torrell’s story like no one else,” Elrod said.

Charlie Holley suggested that Torrell’s teammate Christina Arocha and Torrell’s sister Kiana appear in the video. Elrod also convinced Charlie Holley to speak.

When the video aired, “the kids talked about it all day and were very moved by Torrell’s story,” she said.

Elrod intended to send a two-fold message with Torrell’s video. “I wanted our kids to hear the story of Torrell Holley and be inspired to imitate his character, kindness, sportsmanship and courage,” she said.

She also wanted to emphasize the importance of family. During one of Charlie Holley’s visits, he referred to Liberty as a “second home. Liberty is a family, and the Holleys are members of our family,” Elrod said.

In other remembrance, the Torrell Holley Spirit Award went to eighth-grader Sydney Miller on Awards Day. Other nominees, nominated by eighth-grade athletes and voted on by coaches, were Amy Haddock, Michael Bigelow, Jordan McMeans, James Macklin, Guyren Nabors, Olivia Lamb and Lauren Parker.

Chandler Austin at Bob Jones High School earned the Torrell Holley Memorial Scholarship.

To view the video, visit drive.google.com/file/d/0B6SWtXx0fqcmMWsweVVpcWVhVUk/edit?usp=sharing.