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Scholarship Recipients 2010--
Walter's Gang:
In 2010, the
Parkway Running
Club awarded the Walter Burgess Scholarship to
six recipients who were sent to the
Newport Running Camp
(now the American
Running camp) for a week.
2010 "Walter's Gang" recipients (L to R):
Luke, Jephte, Robert, Courtney, Anne, Lauren
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Luke D. – Westwood High
Luke started running at the Thurston Middle School, after being
coaxed by his older sister. Right away he knew that this was something
that he would pursue. By the fall of 8th grade, he was placing 1st, 2nd
or 3rd among middle schoolers. Then he got a bad case of Lyme Disease
and wound up having surgery on both of his knees, as he was originally
misdiagnosed with staph. Luke missed the last semester of 8th grade, but
started running again mid-summer. It was a slow road back, and Luke
thinks that although the surgery may have slowed his pace a little, but
he is still competing hard. Luke has been on the Westwood High School
Track Team since freshman year. He is a long distance, cross-country
runner, running between 8 and 12 miles most days. Last fall he earned
his 1st Varsity Letter. Luke thinks it is great to earn a letter, but
mostly he just loves the running and the team. Over the past two
summers, Luke participated in his town's Department of Recreation
Leadership Development Program (LDP). As an LDP volunteer, he assisted
Senior Camp Counselors in the running of various camp programs,
including sports, games, arts and crafts, and field trips. He has also
done community service at his church, St. Margaret Mary, and with his
track team, including stationning a Family Health Night for an
elementary school, setting up for and cleaning up for church events, and
performing yard clean-up for elderly townspeople/neighbors. Luke’s
parents work two jobs each in order to provide for the family, and his
Dad is in the Army Reserves. While Luke says they are better off than
many other people, there is no extra money for camp. Luke’s parents say
that the Newport Running Camp would be a really wonderful experience,
but that it is luxury. We are proud to say that PRC is able to provide
Luke with this “luxury”, as he is a Walter Scholarship recipient. Walter
would be so happy to be helping someone so deserving!
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Jephte L. – Codman Academy,
Dorchester, MA
Jephte, a high school junior on the cross-country team and the track
team, says he runs to test himself and pass others around him. He thinks
that running with people who are better than him is a huge motivation to
improve his speed and endurance. He enjoys the competition and race
rivalries and plans to continue running in college and hopefully for the
rest of his life. At Codman Academy (a charter public school), the
students attend classes 6 days a week, from 9am to 4:15 pm. Jephte has
to stay after to get extra help, which makes it particularly hard for
him to participate in sports. Students are also required to have a 75%
or higher grade in order to be on the team. Because of this strict
academic schedule, the cross-country team has to practice in the morning
from 7am to 8 am and on Sundays. Despite all this, Jephte has stayed
dedicated to his running with his goal to test his limits and thus,
improve. Jephte participated in City Year for a full summer. During that
time he cleaned parks and raised money for City Year. In his school as
the required community service, Jephte chose to read to second grade
students. Jephte’s Mom is a single parent with 5 kids. As she cannot
afford running camp, receiving this scholarship is especially important
to Jephte. Walter would definitely find Jephte a dedicated, enthusiastic
runner well deserving of a scholarship in his name.
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Robert C. - St. John the
Baptist Diocesan HS, West Islip, NY
Robert just completed his freshman year as an honor role student.
His running career started in the 8th grade doing cross-country for
which he received MVP award. Although Robert was second best on the
team, he was very encouraging to the other team members. Over that
summer, he attended both track and speed and cross-country camps at St.
Johns. As school year started, he again joined the cross-country team
and over that season was able to improve pace considerably and received
the Most Improved Award. Robert still wasn’t satisfied with his time, as
he knew he could run a faster time. He ran on the Winter Track team at
school as a distance runner. His team won the Freshman League
Championship in that season. He continues to improve his pace and keep
up his running. Robert has been a Boy Scout for 4 years now and
currently holds the rank of Star. As a Boy Scout he is involved in a lot
of community service from the collection of food to helping in soup
kitchens. He also does 5 hours of community service every school quarter
as a part of his religion class. Robert has a passion for running and he
had heard that the Newport Running Camp is the best. He thinks that the
week at Newport will improve his running to the fullest, and he can’t
wait to attend. And, attend he will with the help of the PRC Walter
Burgess Scholarship!
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Courtney B. – Cedar Crest
College, PA
Courtney started running as a way to compete against her sisters.
They all started running at the same time for their high school, but
soon Courtney found it to be so much fun she never stopped running. She
attended the camp last year and felt it was a great opportunity. The
guest speakers were an inspiration and helped with her running. When she
first started she thought that running was a sport that was easy, but
she quickly learned it really wasn’t. Running is something that she
would really have to work hard at, but she has been doing that and still
really loves that challenge. Each year she manages to keep getting
faster. She plans to continue running on her own long after her team
days are over. Courtney Bossard has just completed her sophomore year
and has made great strides in her running over the past two seasons. She
had a decent amount of high school experience, but still had a lot of
untapped potential. According to her coach, Dan Donohue, you could
almost see some sort of switch get flipped during the middle of
Courtney’s freshmen season when she suddenly “got it,” and began to
really blossom as an athlete. She has taken her training to heart,
including completing half-marathons and road races during the
off-season. Over the past semester , Courtney did community service with
the Boys and Girls Club of Allentown. Also over the summer, she was a
tutor for people in my area who needed help to catch up for the next
school year. Since Courtney is in college, the money she earns goes
towards paying off the tuition. Recent changes in her family’s finances,
including her mother’s business, as well as having a sister now in
college too, have made it unlikely that Courtney would be able to attend
camp without aid. We are happy to say that PRC has again chosen a most
deserving candidate and are sponsoring Courtney’s week with a Walter
Burgess Scholarship.
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Anne C. – St. John the Baptist
Diocesan High School West Islip, NY
Anne loves running because it takes her mind off things during the
day. She likes to stay in shape too. It also gives her a great sense of
satisfaction when to run and race. Anne attended the Newport Running
Camp the past two years. She really enjoyed participating in the camp
because it motivated her for her cross-country and track seasons high
school. The camp helped her learn a lot about running. Also, it was
great having so many knowledgeable and accomplished runners there who
teach others how to be better, more motivated runners with the
challenging workouts and runs. She received a lot of inspiration and
excellent information from attending the camp! Anne is one of the top
students in her Junior class, as she has consistently maintained Summa
Cum Laude Honors. Anne is also active in her church and community. She
has participated in the preparation and distribution of Thanksgiving
baskets and over the years has helped with vacation bible school, altar
serving and setting up for church functions. She is presently assisting
in the Religious Education Program. She has also served as a mentor to
other St. John’s students by participating in the Big Brother/Big Sister
for the past two years. It continues to be a difficult challenge for her
family to keep up with all expenses, especially since they pay Catholic
school tuition, transportation costs, and Anne’s brother is in college.
Anne applied for this scholarship too late last year and we are pleased
to be able to offer her a scholarship this year in Walter’s name.
Click here for
Anne's letter detailing her experience at running camp.
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Lauren P. – Gardner High
School, Gardner, MA
Lauren attended Newport Running Camp for the first time last summer
and instantly knew she wanted to go back. She has been running
competitively in cross-country and track ever since her first year in
middle school. As a high school junior, this is Lauren’s sixth year of
competitive running. Lauren feels that it was her freshman year
cross-country season that allowed her to blossom as a runner. She was
nervous and excited as she joined the older teammates in an undefeated
season. That year, the team was the League Champions and qualified for a
trip to the State Meet for the first time in 30 years. This was an
amazing experience in teamwork. It also taught Lauren become mentally
tougher in racing and competing. Lauren has been able to maintain a B+
average in academics consisting of all honors courses. Although running
is very important to her, she always put academics first, even if it
meant skipping a practice to seek extra help after school. Lauren is
serving her second year as Class Treasurer and was recently inducted
into the National Honor Society. She is a member of her school’s Project
Haiti Club, Interact Club, and the Leo Club - each involving numerous
hours of community service. As Lauren’s sister is in college presently,
and Lauren will be going in another year, family funds are not available
to Lauren for the Newport Running Camp this year. Thanks to the PRC
Walter Burgess Scholarship, Lauren is getting her wish too attend the
Newport Running Camp one last time in her high school career. Another
hardworking athlete who would make Walter proud!
Thank
you Walter!
Please email
scholarship@waltersrun.org
for additional information on the Walter Burgess Scholarship Fund. |
