I would like to tell you about a very special young man named Charles A. Denk. We called him “Charlie” after his great-grandfather. Even from a very young age, he had an infectious kindness. He never hesitated to help in any situation, giving the shirt off his back if someone needed it. He loved everything outdoors, especially fishing and hunting. He always enjoyed getting his hands dirty, which was probably why his favorite show was “Dirty Jobs.” He became an avid hunter as a teenager and made sure to text the whole family when he proudly got his first deer.
Being the oldest of four cousins, he looked out for them and in turn they looked up to him. They would spend summers together and between helping his grandparents with projects and teaching his cousins how to swim, the house was always filled with laughter when he was around.
It was during his years at Cape May County Technical School that he found his true passion in welding. Mr. Thomas Jackson, saw his potential and guided him towards great things. As a senior, he entered the Skills USA competition with some friends, and they won first place in states for welding. This is where we saw his passion for welding shine through. He proudly wore his gold medal for weeks. His team raised the money to go on to the National Skills in Tennessee, which was Charlie’s first time on a plane, and even though they did not win, he made sure his team knew how great they were for making it as far as they did.
After high school, Charlie went on to Hobart Welding School in Ohio. He had never left home before but he did not let anything stop him from achieving his dreams. When he graduated, he landed his dream job working with a pipeline company and was able to travel to different states. It gave him the opportunity to be outdoors and keep honing his skills, but no matter where he went, he always made time to visit and have dinner with his family.
On February 13th, 2020, a call came that no one ever wanted to hear. There was an accident and Charlie was gone. At just 21 years old, he was the love and light of his family. He left this world too soon and too sudden, but he left a mark so big that we as a family wanted to honor him and his legacy.
We have set up this scholarship program at Cape May Technical School in New Jersey to help other young men and women who are passionate about welding. We hope to help students who may not have the means to continue to a welding program or technical institute. We will be offering one student a scholarship in the memory of Charlie A. Denk, who touched so many lives with his love and who shined brighter than his welding torch.
Your donation is greatly appreciated and is tax deductible. We are a 501(c)3 non-profit organization and can provide you with a receipt of your generous contribution.
You may send your donation to:
Charles A. Denk Memorial Welding Scholarship, 4341 Sutton Circle, Reading, PA 19606.
Thank you for your kindness and generosity. It means the world to us and to those who will be able to follow their dreams with your support.
Charles A. Denk Memorial Welding Scholarship 