James “Jim” Kennedy was a proud member of the Pine-Richland Rams soccer program and a graduate of the Class of 1999. During his outstanding high school career, Jim was a four-year varsity starter, four-year letter winner, and served as co-captain of the Rams during his senior season in 1998. He earned All-Section honors for three consecutive years and was twice selected as an All-WPIAL player.
Jim remains one of the most accomplished players in Pine-Richland soccer history. He still holds school records for career assists (76), assists in a season (27), and assists in a single game (7). Upon completing his career in November 1998, he had accumulated 204 career points, including 64 goals and 76 assists.
Tragically, Jim’s life was cut short in an automobile accident on December 23, 1998. Although his time was brief, the impact he made on his teammates, classmates, coaches, friends, and the Pine-Richland community continues to be felt today. Known not only for his achievements on the soccer field but also for his character, leadership, and friendship, Jim left a lasting legacy that continues to inspire others.
In September 1999, during halftime of the newly renamed James R. Kennedy Memorial Tournament, Pine-Richland retired Jim’s No. 7 jersey in recognition of his contributions to the soccer program and the community. While No. 7 will never again appear on the field for Pine-Richland soccer, it remains forever associated with the spirit, passion, and excellence that Jim embodied.
To honor his memory, family, friends, teammates, and community members established the James R. Kennedy Memorial Scholarship Fund in 1999. The fund was created to provide financial scholarships to deserving graduating seniors from the Pine-Richland soccer program, ensuring that Jim’s legacy would continue to positively impact future generations of student-athletes.
Since its inception, the scholarship fund has been supported through donor contributions and proceeds from the annual JRK Memorial Tournament, conducted in partnership with the Pine-Richland Soccer Boosters. In 2008, the inaugural James R. Kennedy Memorial Golf Classic was established, creating an additional source of funding dedicated directly to the scholarship program. Both events continue to enjoy strong community support and serve as meaningful celebrations of Jim’s life and legacy.
To date, the James R. Kennedy Memorial Scholarship Fund has awarded more than $120,000 in scholarships to graduating seniors from Pine-Richland High School, helping student-athletes pursue their educational goals while honoring the values that Jim represented.
In 2025, the JRK Memorial Scholarship Fund expanded its impact beyond scholarship support through a partnership with the Pine-Richland Soccer Club’s TOPSoccer program. Supported by proceeds from the James R. Kennedy Memorial Golf Classic, the fund provided a $1,000 contribution to help enhance opportunities for athletes with special needs.
TOPSoccer (The Outreach Program for Soccer) is a community-based training and team placement program designed to provide young athletes with special needs the opportunity to learn, develop, and participate in the game of soccer in a supportive and inclusive environment.
The JRK Memorial Scholarship Fund’s contribution enabled the program to purchase specialized equipment that supports the development and success of participating athletes while also helping to keep registration costs affordable for families. Through this partnership, the fund continues to advance its mission of creating opportunities for young people through soccer while extending Jim Kennedy’s legacy of leadership, compassion, and community involvement.
Anthony Portuesi, Matt Crummy, Joe Gramc
JRK Scholarship Trustees
PRHS Class of 1999
*The JRK Memorial Scholarship Fund is recognized as tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the IRS code.