JACKSON TWP -- Although he had suffered mortal wounds five feet from an exploding grenade, Sgt. 1st Class Ryan Gloyer arose and ran 15 yards and collapsed in the arms of his commander and team to prevent his fellow Green Berets from having to face enemy fire while retrieving him.

That final act of selflessness, and Gloyer’s many other positive attributes, were shared at a moving assembly Monday morning with seventh- and eighth- graders who attend classes in the building named for Gloyer, a 2000 Seneca Valley graduate.

Gloyer was killed in action in Kunduz, Afghanistan, on Nov. 3, 2016, in support of Operation Freedom Sentinel.

The Seneca Valley Middle School on the district’s secondary campus was renamed Ryan Gloyer Middle School by a vote of the school board in February 2018.

During the assembly, Gloyer’s father, Richard Gloyer, recalled his son’s funny personality as a very young child, his innate musical ability, his love of dancing and his journey to find himself while a student in the Seneca Valley School District.

“In ninth and 10th grade, he realized it is not necessary to be one of the cool kids,” Gloyer’s father said. “He decided he would be just who he was.”

Ryan lettered in soccer and track and participated in chorus and school musicals while at Seneca Valley, where he decided his senior project would be to teach young kids to breakdance.

“All of these experiences shaped and formed who he was,” Gloyer told the attentive students. “If he were here, he would encourage you to try something you’ve never tried before.”

His close friend and Seneca Valley classmate, Mary Beth Keally, recalled Ryan’s ability to really listen to people and his staunch refusal to judge anyone on their appearance, group of friends or any other superficial factors.

“He was a hero because of how he treated people,” Keally said. “As you walk through the halls of Ryan Gloyer Middle School, take a piece of Ryan with you.”

Gloyer said his son also persevered in everything he did, never giving up in the face of failure.

Gloyer said Ryan failed the Special Forces selection course three times over 10 years before passing and proudly donning his green beret in September 2014.

He went on to earn several medals for valor and courage during his 12 years in the Army, which included more than 30 firefights.

His bravery was recalled by his friend and fellow Green Beret, Chief Warrant Officer Isaac Meade, who also regaled the students with both funny and heroic stories about Gloyer.

Meade recalled Gloyer’s method of preparing for a serious and potentially lethal firefight his team was about to face.

“Ryan spent two hours doing dances to Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera to take our minds off of the dangerous mission,” Meade said.

He also mentioned his friend’s inability to judge anyone and his love and concern for the Afghan people.

“Ryan, as a soldier and as a man, he cared,” Meade said. “My challenge to you is to be more like Ryan.”

Gloyer then played a professional video created to honor Ryan, which included photos and video from his childhood, teenage years, graduation from Thiel College, Army service and a team of white horses pulling the caisson bearing Gloyer’s flag-draped casket to his eternal resting place in Arlington Cemetery.

Fifteen Green Berets dressed in military fatigues watched along with the students as the video played, backed by songs like “You Raise Me Up” and “Ballad of the Green Berets.”

Gloyer reminded the students that the middle school was not only named after his son because of his military service, but because of his penchant for living life to the fullest and his positive impact on others.

“I hope you will be able to utilize these lessons in your own lives,” Gloyer said. “Let Ryan’s life lessons raise you up to be more than you ever thought you could be.”

After the assembly, students were amazed and affected by the life of Ryan Gloyer.

“It deepened the impact of the respect we should have for Ryan Gloyer and how much he did,” said Matthew D’Appolonia, a seventh-grader at RGMS.

Matthew’s brother was a student at the school when it was renamed in Gloyer’s honor.

“I have the highest level of respect for these people here today,” Matthew said of the Green Berets in attendance.

Grace Shibata, also a seventh-grader at RGMS, said the message that Ryan accepted and placed importance on everyone he met hit home with her.

“Ryan didn’t really judge people and looked at what is inside you,” Grace said. “Changing the school’s name was a great way to honor him.”

Principal Anthony Babusci said the school’s name never is taken for granted.

“His legacy is a teaching tool for us,” Babusci said. “The way he lived his life is a perfect blueprint for a middle school student.”

More information on Ryan Gloyer and changing the school’s name is available by visiting svsd.net and typing “The story of Ryan Gloyer“ into the search box.