Scholarship Recipients 2005--
Walter's Girls:
In 2005, the
Parkway Running
Club used the Walter Burgess Scholarship
Fund to provide scholarships to
5 women to the
Newport Running Camp.
Four of the women were on the Gardner High
School Track Team.
One
recipient, Jenna M, wrote to thank us for choosing her to be one of the
five recipients of the Walter Burgess Scholarship. She found her
experience at Newport to be extremely fun and very rewarding. Jenna
learned a lot in the short week that she was there. She feels that this
information will help build her into a better and smarter runner. A basic Newport Running Camp day consisted of a morning jog, breakfast,
speakers/lectures, yoga/drills, lunch, free time (beach, going into
Newport, much need naps), afternoon workout, dinner, speakers/lectures and
lights out at 10:30! Jenna had an awesome time and actually won the
predicted 5k run at the end of camp, which earned her a full scholarship
to attend the camp next summer. She sends the PRC no end of thanks for
the wonderful opportunity we gave her to attend Newport Running Camp. She
said she can see why Walter loved it so much. Jenna’s experience and
gratitude is truly a tribute to Walter’s spirit as a runner and as the
caring, giving person he was.
In October,
we heard from Elizabeth P., the mother of another recipient, Carissa P.
Elizabeth’s note was to let us know that the Gardner High Cross Country
Teams were undefeated with a 7-0 record! Carissa’s Mom went on to say
that Carissa has improved tremendously and they are truly thankful for the
scholarship. Elizabeth wanted us to know that Meagan T. (another
scholarship recipient) and Jenna have also improved their times and most
importantly, all the girls are working together as a team! and having
fun!! They are all having an outstanding season – the Running Camp was a
great experience and really helped the girls bond.
Elizabeth
also sent along The Gardner News report from October stating that
2005 is the first time in the Gardner High School girl’s cross-country
history that the team has started off with seven straight wins. Walter’s
Girls demonstrated their skills when Carissa placed 8th, Megan 9th and
Jenna 10th to earn the victory with some outstanding team work.
Much praise should be given to the hard
work of the Gardner coaches and support from the parents, but these girls
have shown the benefits of the Newport Running Camp experience. We can
all be proud of their accomplishments and know that Walter would be
thrilled that he played such a vital part. Walter Burgess continues still
to be an inspiration to PRC runners and beyond.
