Blue Jay Family: Westminster Supports Student

Photo caption: Corey was named an honorary captain at the MU-Texas A&M football game on Saturday, Nov. 30. From left to right, Corey’s dad Eddie; Corey, ’14; and brother Kyle, ’15. Not pictured, Corey’s mom Kim.

Westminster student Corey Bryant started his senior year on our Fulton campus this fall, ready to finish his degree in Environmental Science and serve his fraternity, Sigma Alpha Epsilon, as chapter president.

The semester didn’t start as he would have liked. A Blue Jays football player, he was sidelined from games, following a blood clot in his leg that surfaced in January 2012. Still active on the team and supporting his brother Kyle (also a Blue Jays football player), Corey was helping coach the defensive line and diving into classes, when two weeks into the semester, he was diagnosed with Stage 3 testicular cancer.

A graduate of Oakville High School, Corey returned home in St. Louis to pursue treatment at Siteman Cancer Center, but his fellow Blue Jays have made sure he knows he has their full support. “Bryantstrong” and “CB #73” t-shirt and bracelet sales, plus other campus fundraisers, have gone to help Corey and his family.

“We start and end every practice and game by shouting out family. Corey is and will always be a member of our football family,” says Westminster Head Football Coach John Welty. “When a person in our football family goes through a time of need he can always count on his brothers. Corey is not alone in his fight. He knows that his current brothers and brothers from previous teams will be pushing him and supporting him.”

After completing his current 12-week course of chemotherapy, Corey says he will undergo more scans to see if the cancer is gone. He hopes to return to Westminster for the spring semester.

“The support from campus has been amazing,” Corey says. “Even from freshmen I don’t know that well. It’s overwhelming.”

Corey plans to pursue a career as a game warden following graduation from Westminster.

If you would like to purchase a t-shirt ($10) to show your support for Corey, please contact Chrissy Maddox in the Residential & Greek Life Office at 573-592-5242.

For more information or updates, visit https://www.facebook.com/bryantstrongfreak73.