Jake P. Mocko Memorial Scholarship of the Madison Area YMCA Fund
The Jake P. Mocko Memorial Scholarship is proudly offered by the Madison Area YMCA, made possible through the generosity of charitable donors.
The Madison Area YMCA is dedicated to ensuring the Jake P. Mocko Memorial Scholarship endures for years to come—and your generous donation plays a vital role in making that possible. Your support honors Jake’s legacy and helps empower Madison High School graduates who, like Jake, have faced life’s challenges with strength, perseverance, and unwavering character. Your donation makes a meaningful impact, ensuring that Jake’s resilience, kindness, and inspiring spirit continue to uplift others for years to come.
ABOUT THE SCHOLARSHIP
This award honors the legacy of Jake Peter Mocko, a Madison High School Class of 2022 alumnus and a dedicated Madison Area YMCA Member Services Representative. During his junior year, Jake was diagnosed with Grade IV Astrocytoma, a rare and aggressive cancer affecting the central nervous system. Despite undergoing extensive treatments, participating in clinical trials, and engaging in physical therapy, he remained committed to his studies and his work at the Madison Area YMCA.
Through unimaginable challenges, Jake exemplified courage, grace, and unwavering character—qualities that continue to inspire all who knew him. Though Jake’s battle with cancer ended far too soon, his strength and spirit live on in the lives he touched. This scholarship is a tribute to his resilience, awarded to graduates who have faced significant life challenges and responded with the same strength, perseverance, and character that defined Jake’s journey.
The Jake P. Mocko Memorial Scholarship is offered to Madison High School Students and can be found on the Madison Public Schools' website here.
DONATE HERE
Thank you for being a part of this special tribute and for helping us keep Jake’s memory alive.
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Congratulations to the 2025 Scholarship Winner: Ryan Delaney
May 30, 2025
I am honored to have been chosen as the inaugural recipient of the Jake Mocko Memorial Scholarship. This meaningful recognition is a powerful reminder that my medical journey does not define me. It is simply a part of my story, one that became the foundation for who I am today. The experience has made me more determined, more aware, and more hopeful. I carry with me the scars, the lessons, and the fears I have overcome, not as limitations but as sources of strength.
To me, Jake's spirit lives in those who persist through pain, find strength in struggle, and lift others as they rise. I strive to embody that spirit not just because my path has been difficult, but because I have chosen to face it with courage, compassion, and a commitment to creating change for others walking a similar road.
In the fall, I will head off to the University of Colorado Boulder to pursue a degree in Aerospace Engineering. I have always had a love of space and can’t wait to see what my future will bring.
-Ryan Delaney