Scholarship Recipients 2006--
Walter's Gang:
In 2006, the
Parkway Running
Club gave Walter Burgess Scholarships
to 9 young men and women – one of whom we had awarded a Scholarship last
year - to the
Newport Running Camp.
They all had compelling running histories and financial needs, and since
the funds are flush this year due to such a successful Walter’s Run in
December, the Scholarship Committee just couldn’t say no to anyone. This
may not be the case in the future, but for now we feel fortunate to be
able to help so many deserving runners in Walter’s honor. We can only
imagine how Walter would be beaming at the thought of these kids partaking
in the Newport Running Camp because of him. What a legacy!
The
recipients from Gardner High School include Joe W., Rachel P., Helen O.,
Katherine A., and our return athlete Megan T. Our three other high
schoolers are Stasia G. from Westborough High School (MA), Rich C. from
Holmdel High School (NJ), and Joey F. from Red Bank Regional High School
(NJ). We also have one college senior, Jennifer S., from Cedar Crest
College (NJ). Most were nominated by their track coach and are active
members on the track team of their school. By attending the Newport
Running Camp they are looking to improve their finish times, learn how to
train properly, and make new friends among the running community.
Here is a note on each in their own words:
Joe W. -
I am a freshman at Gardner High School and have attended Newport Running
Camp twice (8/04 & 8/05). In my two years of running camp I have learned a
lot from the lectures and great counselors they have there along with
making new friends. It has helped me greatly in preparing, training and
overall good habits for helping me succeed in running. This year as a
freshman, our cross-country team went undefeated in dual meets, MidWach B
League Champs, placed 2nd in the District Meet held here in Gardner and
placed 14th at the State Meet in Roxbury. I was in the top seven so I
competed in the League, District and State Meet. I placed 14th in the
MidWach B League, 45th in the District Meet and 123rd in the State Meet.
During outdoor track I competed in the high jump, 1 mile, 2 mile and the
1000. My PR's are as follows: high jump 5'2", mile 5:01, 2 mile 10:53 and
the 1000 2:55.59. I placed 6th in the 2 mile in the indoor league meet.
This year is going to be a tough year for my family to send me to running
camp, as my sister will be going away to college in the fall. Therefore, I
respectfully request financial help this coming year at Newport Running
Camp.
Rachel P.
– I am chronically late for many things in my life… but when it comes to
running, I am rarely –if ever- absent from the scene. I’m the competitor
who, despite her slight frame and quiet air, packs a raging amount of
energy into every aspect of the race. I am an American Indian, and barely
concealed beneath this native skin is the persistent, untamed spirit of
the Wolf. After prolonged knee pain which resulted in surgery and many
months of no running and regular therapy, I started from the absolute
basics and built back up in one season. At the last meet of Cross Country,
at Districts, I finally achieved first place in respect to the rest of my
team. More knee pain resulted in a second surgery being scheduled, but in
that time when my injury was definite, I took 30 seconds off my 2-mile
record – it now stands at 12:33. And here I am now. Rebuilding for the
second time but with doubled gusto and fervor. Help me tap further into
the ability that lies seething, prowling, howling beneath my surface. Help
me become a professional runner.
Megan T.
– Last year, I was one of the lucky people chosen to
receive the Walter Burgess Running Camp Scholarship, and I had the time of
my life at running camp and also the Cross Country season of my life. I
owe part of that to you for helping me to attend the Newport Running Camp.
So, I would first like to thank you very much for sending me to running
camp. I improved my times on our school Cross Country course by minutes,
not seconds, and also I was awarded our team’s “Most Improved” award,
which I am very proud of. I am currently a week away from graduating high
school wth a 3.4 GPA and a class rank of 57. I have spoken to the coach at
Worcester State College, where I will enter as a Nursing major in the
fall, and they are happy to have me as a member of their team. I am hoping
to attend running camp again to improve my running to a college level.
Helen O.
– I began running more than a year ago. When I first joined
my school’s indoor track team, I was unsure of myself, and I didn’t know
what to expect. Now, I run cross country, indoor, and outdoor track. I
think I have improved a lot over the past year. The friends I have made
and the challenges I have overcome are what motivate me to continue
running. One of the major concepts I got out of high school is dedication,
and this applies to running as well. College is the main reasons I am
applying for the Walter Burgess Scholarship. Now that my brothers and I
are about to enter college, my parents are working hard to save enough
money. This scholarship provides a great opportunity that normally, I
would not be able to take.
Katherine A.
– Attending Newport Running Camp last year was a life-changing event for
me. I started running in 8th grand and I really enjoyed it, especially
cross-country. Last year at the beginning of indoor track, coach handed
out a flyer for running camp and I decided to go. It was amazing and it
made me love running even more than before. All the talks and clinics were
really interesting g and it was great to meet people from all over that
love running as much as me. Ever since running camp, I have been trying
harder and really pushing myself. This being my junior yea, I definitely
plan on running next year and hope to continue my career through college.
I really think that going to camp last year made a huge difference in my
running, and I think going this year will help even more.
Rick C.
– Rick’s case is pretty special, as he was recommended by his aunt,
Natalie Kim. She says that she has watched Rick grow into a responsible
young man and a well-rounded student with a passion for running.
I am a sophomore cross country and long distance runner at Holmdel
High School. I have been running since I was 4 years old. I have played
various sports (basketball, baseball, etc), but while doing these sports,
I realized that not only did I have the speed, but also the endurance. For
the past 4 years of my life, I have been 100% dedicated to my running. My
personal best mie time is 5:30, which I ran in my freshman year. My 800
personal best is 2:23. I have a lot of support in my running. My parents
are always cheering me on, asking how I feel and if my shoes are okay, and
they are always taking me to and from practice. My grandmother is a very
big help as well, she is always looking out for me and helps me eat
properly, so I am able to compete at peak performance. I run not only for
me, but also to be a role model to my younger brother who wants to become
a runner too. I am applying for this scholarship award because my mother
just went back to college for the past 3 years - we do not have enough
money to spare for me to be able to go to Newport Running Camp. I am
applying for this summer’s session because my junior year is one of the
most important in my running career. I want to show my family, coach, and
tem how much of a better runner I can become. With the assistance of this
scholarship, I know I can attan my goa by attending Newport Running Camp.
Stasia G.
– Stasia was nominated by Eleanor Brown, her Westborough (MA) High
School coach. Ms. Brown wrote us that Stasia is going to be a senior this
fall and will be the captain of the cross-country team for the second year
in a row. She has been instrumental in leading their cross-country team of
35 girls to first and second place finishes in their league as well as
multiple wins of her school’s “most spirited” award.
I love to run. It is just that simple. I not only runs cross-country, but
also indoor and outdoor track. I absolutely live for this sport. I love
the feeling of rung through the woods. I especially enjoy running on
trails whether it’s racing or running just for fun with a few friends. I
stared running in 6th grade for the middle school cross-country team.
Since then, my passion for this sport has grown immensely and continues to
grow with time. With all things though, there is always room for
improvement. This is why I want to attend this running camp. In addition
to putting a lot of energy into running, I take good care of my
schoolwork. I am in all honors classes and although running is very
important to me, I always put school first. I am also a part of National
Honors Society and the Music Honors Society. I do a lot of community
service throughout the year. I believe that I am a well-rounded person.
Joey F.
– I am a freshman at Red Bank Regional High School in New Jersey. This is
my first year running competitively and I cannot think of anything that I
enjoy doing more. I would love to attend Newport Running Camp this summer.
I really want to improve and become the best runner that I can be. Camp
would also give me an opportunity to get away from the local parks for a
week and train with some great people in an excellent atmosphere. My
brother Tommy attended the camp last year and he told me how he had a
great experience, and how it made him a stronger runner. Tommy recently
became the NJ State Indoor 800 meter champion by winning the Meet of
Champions. I would love to follow in his footsteps with hard work and
dedication. Next year, Tommy is attending the University of Maryland, and
due to the cost of college, camp would be very difficult for my family and
me to afford. The camp would greatly benefit me in my running and I would
tryly be greateful to have such a positive experience.
Jennifer S.
– Dan and Val Donohue, Assistant Director of Athletics & Cross Country
Coaches at Cedar Crest College, Allentown, PA, nominated Jennifer Shaffer
for one of our scholarships. Val and Don knew Walter very well from their
years of attendance that the camp and they think the scholarship has been
a fabulous idea. It captures Walter’s enthusiasm for running and has kept
him present in their hearts and minds. They feel that Jennifer was an easy
candidate to select for this scholarship – they can’t recommend her highly
enough. Jen developed into a great collegiate runner and has been
consistently among their top five performers.
I have a driving passion for running and would love to be able to attend
he camp this summer. Running became an integral part of my life when I
joined spring track as a freshman in high school. Since the, I have been
“hooked” and proceeded to run cross country and track for 3 years at the
high school level and 3 more years of cross country at the collegiate
level. Initially, I liked to run because it was a challenge. Running is
not an easy sport, but I was willing to work hard and earned a spot on the
varsity team I continue to love running because it is challenging, making
it a sport that will never grow dull no matter what my age. Running also
helps me to stay healthy and feel god about myself. Once I graduate from
college, I plan to run in road races and I even hope to train for some
marathons, especially those which raise money for good causes like
fighting cancer or preventing drunk driving. To enhance my resume for
graduate school, this summer I accepted an internship at the Texas A&M
Department of Biochemistry instead of a summer job where I could make more
money. I would really like to run my best times during my senior season
and I know the Newport Running Camp would help me to achieve that success
this year. Hopefully, the scholarship in Walter’s memory will enable me to
get there.
Pretty wonderful –
both for the recipients and for Walter – he would be so amazed to know
that he just keeps on giving – a true inspiration! Let’s work together to
make Walter’s Run a great success
again, so that we indeed can continue this terrific program in Walter’s
memory.
Please email
scholarship@waltersrun.org
for additional information on the Walter Burgess Scholarship Fund.
