It’s not every kid that receives two Presidential Volunteer Service awards, complete with an emblem of the White House on the top and the signature of Barack Obama at the end.
It’s also not any Tom, Dick or Harry who nabs the Jefferson Community Service Award, known as the country’s longest-standing and most prestigious celebration for unique forms of public service.
But then Michael Kelker, 18, isn’t just any kid. He’ll prove that again at 4:30 p.m. Saturday when the graduated Pioneer High student takes the Levi’s Stadium field with the South team to meet the North in the 41st Charlie Wedemeyer All-Star Football Game.
Being an all-star is just another impressive honor on the resume of the Pioneer two-way player with the 3.8 GPA and matinee-idol good looks.
“Michael was a four-year football player here at Pioneer,” said South coach Eric Perry who also coached Kelker at Pioneer. “He was a team captain and a player that I could always rely on to do anything I might ask of him. His teammates respected him and would follow him. Not only was Michael a good football player, he was even better off it. He has received multiple awards during his high school time for community service.”
Included was a weekly award from Cal-High Sports-Bay Area that automatically put him in the running for the overall grand prize award given by Lexus which he – of course – won. That was good for $3,000 from Lexus that will help offset his tuition and expenses at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo where he plans to Political Science en route to becoming a lawyer.
Throughout high school Kelker also was on the Santa Clara County Youth Task Force. The task force is an appointed body of 15 youth to serve as an advisory board to the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors. This also allowed him to intern for the San Jose mayorial campaign.
A special bond with his brother Sean, 16, a Pioneer student who walks with the aid of arm crutches, stoked Kelker’s interest in adaptive sports. It led him to volunteer with the Wheels of Fire group which helps people with physical disabilities compete in athletics such as basketball, indoor soccer, archery and bocci ball.
Sean Kelker has spinal cord tethering, a condition in which the spinal cord becomes attached to the spinal column via surrounding structures, according to spinabifidaassociation.org. A tethered cord does not move and is pulled tightly at the end. The condition reduces spinal flow to nerves and causes damage to the spinal cord from both the stretching and the decreased blood supply, says the site.
Helping his brother and others with similar disabilities brings a smile to Michael’s face.
“It’s nice to see these kids get a chance to enjoy their sports and get into a comfort zone,” said Michael, a sturdy 5-foot-10, 200-pounder. “It’s taught me to appreciate what I have in my life and to give back to those not as fortunate.”
Regarding helping Sean specifically, Michael said: “It’s given us a bond. Sports have been a huge part of my life and it’s let me participate in something alongside of him.”
Paying it forward and watching out for each other has always been the modus operandi for the Kelker family which also includes father Kris, a former Mitty High football player; mother Anne, a Leland High grad; and Patrick Kelker, 12, who is about to enter seventh grade.
Although the medical ramifications for Sean are significant, the Kelkers have always taken it in stride as much as possible, with each family member helping out when needed.
“We’ve always told Sean that it’s part of his life, not who he is,” Anne said. “Michael has always looked out for him and has been interested in what he was doing which led him to get involved in adaptive sports. It’s just in the nature of everyone in our family.”
Where Michael stands out from the average volunteer is his zeal. Dude doesn't do anything half-way. As with football or his studies, he's been all-in, allowing him to rake in community-service awards like a rich kid hauling in birthday presents.
“I’m really proud of him,” Anne said. “He has a caring nature and he goes 100 percent at anything he tries. He really works hard at everything he does.”
