Scholarship will honor Medina woman who loved working with children

3 school districts will give memorial to Lisa Husung

Provided photo – Kristopher Moseley is pictured with Lisa Husung. The two planned to marry July 2015. Mr. Moseley is pushing to create a memorial scholarship for his fiancée, who died Jan. 2 from complications from Lupus.

MEDINA – Lisa Husung wanted to be an ambassador, working with international students. But ultimately, she decided the best way she could make a difference was in a one-on-one setting, working with students to read and learn.

Husung, 23, was close to earning a master’s degree at the University of Buffalo to become certified to teach reading and English as a Second Language. Her life was cut short on Jan. 2 when she died from complications from Lupus.

The community has rallied around her family, and is working to establish a memorial scholarship in her name. Each year the Albion, Medina and Roy-Hart school districts will give a senior a $200 scholarship in Husung’s name. There will be a fund-raising event from 4 to 10 p.m. on March 22 at Medina Theatre. There will be a magician, DJ, food and a silent auction as part of the scholarship fund-raiser.

Lisa attended school at Albion until the fourth grade. She graduated eighth in her class at Medina in 2008. She was an honor student despite early struggles learning to read.

The scholarship at Albion and Medina will go to a graduating senior who needed academic intervention services, or who is an ESL speaker or a refugee. In Roy-Hart the scholarship will go to a student pursuing the teaching profession.

“The three communities came out to support us in her death and they will support us in the scholarship,” said Lisa’s mother Janet Husung.

Carl and Janet Husung hold a picture of their daughter Lisa from her graduation day from Oswego State College. The Husungs are raising money for a memorial scholarship in their daughter’s name that will be awarded to a senior each year in Albion, Medina and Roy-Hart school districts.

Lisa grew up in a household with teachers. Her mother is a kindergarten teacher at Albion. Lisa’s father Carl is a high school reading teacher at Roy-Hart. Growing up, Lisa helped her father with the AYSO soccer program both in Medina and Roy-Hart.

After earning a bachelor’s degree at Oswego State College, Lisa worked as a substitute teacher at Albion and Medina. This past summer she taught children of migrant farmworkers at Lyndonville. Lisa didn’t want to be a teacher in a large classroom setting. She enjoyed working with ESL students, where there was more one-on-one interaction.

“She loved her kids,” her father said. “She was the kindest person you’d ever meet.”

Lisa has enjoyed working with children since she was a teen-ager. In high school she volunteered at Lee-Whedon Memorial Library, running Lisa’s Craft Corner for children. She worked as an AmeriCorps employee for two summers in the library and for five years would be called to fill in when staff went on vacation or for maternity leave.

“She was a joy, a gem,” said Catherine Cooper, the library director. “She was always happy and pleasant. She was an A-student and an A-person.”

At Oswego, Lisa met her fiancé, Kris Moseley. The two got engaged on Jan. 25, 2013. They were planning a July 2015 wedding at Vizcarra Vineyards.

Moseley is working as a long-term substitute teacher for a sixth grade class in Medina. He met Lisa during an education class at Oswego. The two saved each other seats and studied together while their relationship blossomed. Moseley is helping to organize the scholarship fund-raiser.

Provided photo – Lisa Husung works with a student at Lisa’s Craft Corner at Lee-Whedon Memorial Library in Medina. Lisa worked there over five years.

The community already is working to raise money for the scholarship and to honor Lisa. This past Saturday, the Medina Winterguard dedicated its show in Medina to Lisa, who was active in the marching band and colorguard as a student.

She also started dancing with the Dancenter in Medina when she was 2 ½ and was in the ballet class right up until around Thanksgiving. The Dancenter will dedicate its spring recital to Lisa.

Tickets for the March 22 event are available at Blissetts in Medina, Bindings Bookstore in Albion, the Middleport Library or at the door the day of the event. They can also be purchased online at www.medinatheatre.com.

Donations can be made directly to the Lisa M. Husung Memorial Scholarship at any Key Bank branch or mailed to Key Bank, 514 Main St., Medina, NY 14103.