Shane Lisman and his mentor, Jim Perry, at the Iwo Jima Memorial, which is also known as the U.S. Marine Corps War Memorial, located near Arlington National Cemetery.

ADAMS TWP — Mars senior Shane Lisman recently spent five days participating in an immersive Marine Corps experience in Washington, D.C.

Shane, 17, is the son of Charles and Terri Shane of Mars. He joined about 180 other participants from July 12 to 16 in daily workouts, a trip to the military base in Quantico, Va., community service events, team-building outings; a tour of the nation's capital including American University, the National Museum of the Marine Corps, the National Mall, other historical landmarks, and took part in networking opportunities with speakers from various backgrounds and industries.

This all came after Shane was awarded the U.S. Marine Corps Semper Fidelis All-American Award in April. He was nominated by his high school soccer coach. The award recognizes high school students who have conquered a difficulty in their lives while achieving academically, bettering their communities and excelling in extracurricular activities.

Shane said he was “very humbled and honored” to receive the award, but that he was also a little bit shocked.

About 6,000 people were nominated for the award this year, and one boy and one girl were chosen from almost every state.

“It's motivating,” Shane said. “It matured me because (for) the whole event, I was surrounded by others who have overcome and achieved great things around the nation.”

Shane, who battled thyroid cancer and alopecia, is a four-year member of Mars High School boys varsity soccer team and the school's student council.

In the community Shane plays competitive soccer for SCS United. He is also an assistant coach for the Upward basketball program and joins in mission trips through Glade Run Church in Valencia.

“I wasn't that surprised when I found out the details of the award and who it's given to,” said Shane's SCS United soccer coach, Jim Perry.

When given the chance to bring someone he deemed a mentor with him on his once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to go to D.C., Shane chose Perry.

“I was shocked when he asked me to be his mentor,” Perry said. “I was very humbled and touched by it.”

Perry said he's “an old, retired gentleman who's still coaching” and that he didn't initially understand why Shane chose him but was thankful for the opportunity.

“I really learned a lot about him,” Perry said, “and I'm sure he learned a few more things about me, too.”

“He's just been a role-model for me, on and off the field,” Shane said. “He's really down-to-earth.”

“It was fantastic,” Perry said. “I'm 76 years old, and it was one of the highlights of my life.”

Shane said his favorite parts of the trip were a private event at the National Archives and the scavenger hunt on the National Mall.

“We got food and dessert, and the archivist of the nation spoke to us,” Shane said of his experience at the archives. “We got to walk around when it was closed to the public.”

Shane and Perry both said the scavenger hunt was also one of the more enjoyable experiences.

“We ended up running about 7 miles while finding facts about the nation,” Shane said.“The teamwork on that was amazing. People who had just met a few days earlier worked together to find all the things,” Perry said. “It would be tough to say just one highlight from the trip.”Perry said being in the Marine Corps environment and in the company of the students was “incredible.”“It was humbling. There were less than 100 there, but every one of them had a story.”Perry said he still believed Shane's story was one of the more special ones, though he didn't get to talk to every person in attendance.“There were others who overcame an ACL injury, which to me seemed less significant than what Shane has gone through,” Perry said. “There was another boy in our group whose girlfriend committed suicide, and he started a teen suicide awareness program in his school district (in California). It was touching.”Perry said Shane's story wasn't the only significant thing he brought to the event.“It's so unique,” he said. “(He was) the only boy from the state of Pennsylvania to get it.”Shane said he's planning to go to college for entrepreneurship after graduation. For more information on the award and program, visit https://sfaap.marines.com/.

Jim Perry was chosen as Shane Lisman's mentor for his trip to Washington, D.C., which he earned along with the U.S. Marine Corps Semper Fidelis All-American Award.