By Tim Clifford

Tragic news came from Harborview Medical Center on Mon., Oct. 5, when it was announced that Evergreen High School senior Kenney Bui had succumbed to injuries he sustained during a football game between Evergreen and Highline High. The 17-year-old Bui suffered a major head injury while playing in the 4th quarter of the game at Highline Memorial Stadium on Friday, Oct. 2.

On Friday, Oct. 9 and Saturday, Oct. 10 a memorial was held for Bui at the Columbia Funeral Home on Rainier Ave. S. in Seattle. Buddhist memorial rites were given during the day and visitors were given the opportunity to pay their respects and offer condolences to the Bui family.

The game scheduled for Oct. 9 against Lindbergh High School was cancelled and the next scheduled game will be the homecoming game on Oct. 23 against Bainbridge.

Bui was a senior at TEC on the Evergreen campus and played defensive back on the football team. It has been reported that Bui previously had been checked by doctor following a concussion in September and was cleared to return to play.

“It’s a tragic and devastating loss. Our hearts go out to the family and we are trying to do everything we possibly can to support. They are just a remarkable family,” said Catherine Carbone Rogers, Communications Officer for Highline, following Bui’s memorial service on Friday.

When asked if this death would alter the district’s approach to athletic safety Rogers stated that officials are currently working to ensure that all safety protocols were followed. She expressed her confidence that the district followed all possible safety guidelines and went on to express their commitment to player safety.

The Highline School district is one of the few in the state that employs three full-time athletic trainers for their students (Edmonds was also noted for employing full-time trainers). According to Rogers every coach, assistant coach and volunteer is required to be trained in the Heads Up Youth Football training program, a new standard program launched in 2012 by USA Football and funded by the NFL. It is a statewide requirement this year that at least one coach on each team be trained in this program.
A scholarship fund has been created in Bui’s memory. The Kenney Bui Memorial Scholarship will be awarded to a student this year during Highline’s annual Scholar-Athlete, Coach, and Community Recognition Banquet. Contributions to the scholarship fund can be made by visiting highlineschoolsfoundation.org and following the links to the scholarships page.