|
In 1998, the Merrimack Valley Striders established a Memorial Scholarship Program. The purpose of the program is to encourage young runners to pursue their sport with the energy and care that a handful of departed Striders brought to an activity they loved.
Through funds donated in memory of Mike Dowe, Ralph Rockwood, Dean Peterson, and Greg Gumbinner, the club offers financial awards to graduating high school seniors who have participated in cross-country or track. Candidates for this award are selected based on their submission of a short essay titled "What Running Means to Me."
To learn more about the program, contact Charlie Farrington or Scot Martel.
In the program's first year, Katherine Blais submitted an essay that expressed the love for and dedication to running that Mike, Ralph, Dean, and Greg had. You may read Katherine's essay here.
Here is the list of past recipients of MVS Memorial Scholarships.
| 2007, $4000 awarded |
| Recipient |
School |
|
| Dan Anastos |
Peabody |
|
| Erica Boulay |
Wells (Maine) |
|
| Faith Gilmore |
Methuen |
|
| John Greenlaw |
Pinkerton Academy |
|
| Eric Mackay |
Central Catholic |
|
| Jennifer Racine |
Haverhill |
|
| Hannah Reagan |
Pentucket |
|
| Alexa Swahn |
North Andover |
|
| |
|
| 2006, $2100 awarded |
| Recipient |
School |
|
| Derek Breen |
Salem |
|
| Margaret Dickinson |
Pentucket |
|
| Julie Hillner |
Central Catholic |
|
| Kathryn Mathers |
Central Catholic |
|
| Ashley Morgenstern |
Pinkerton |
|
| Gregory Kinneman |
North Andover |
|
| Katherine O'Dowd |
Haverhill |
|
| |
|
| 2005, $2100 awarded |
| Recipient |
School |
|
| Paul Ahern |
Londonderry |
|
| Benjamin Mallard |
Pelham |
|
| Erin Michaud |
Central Catholic |
|
| Michael Miranda |
Methuen |
|
| James Primes |
Andover |
|
| Heather Smith |
North Andover |
|
| Arthur Collins |
Lawrence |
|
| |
|
| 2004, $2100 awarded |
| Recipient |
School |
|
| Elizabeth Berkenbush |
Pentucket |
|
| Andrew Weymouth |
Methuen |
|
| Roberto Sanchez |
Greater Lawrence Tech |
|
| Cathryn Wile |
Pentucket |
|
| Chrissy Carifio |
Haverhill |
|
| Steven Small |
North Andover |
|
| Scott Cormier |
Central Catholic |
|
| |
|
| 2003, $2100 awarded |
| Recipient |
School |
|
| Lindsay Entsminger |
North Andover |
|
| John Gillespie |
St. John's Prep |
|
| Mary Scott Hardwick |
North Andover |
|
| Stephen Plouffe |
Methuen |
|
| Mark Schruender |
North Andover |
|
| Amanda Schweizer |
Pentucket |
|
| Phillip Shaw |
Andover |
|
| |
|
| 2002, $2100 awarded |
| Recipient |
School |
|
| Julie Carifio |
Haverhill |
|
| Jennifer Carrien |
Presentation of Mary |
|
| Brian Ford |
North Andover |
|
| Christopher Hamel |
Methuen |
|
| Ryan Black Jones |
Central Catholic |
|
| Kimberly Najem |
Pinkerton Academy |
|
| Tracey Pringle |
Pentucket |
|
| |
|
| 2001, $2100 awarded |
| Recipient |
School |
|
Sarah Beckwith
|
Pentucket |
|
Jacqueline Craven
|
North Andover |
|
Eric Landers
|
Central Catholic |
|
Tara Lynch
|
Haverhill |
|
| Emily Pfeil |
Andover |
|
| Sully Pimental |
Lawrence |
|
| Julie-Anne Plouffe |
Methuen |
|
| |
|
| 2000, $1500 awarded |
| Recipient |
School |
|
| Kristin Anne Monaco |
Pentucket |
|
| Meghan E. Davis |
North Andover |
|
| Dan Corcoran |
Haverhill |
|
| Daniel Isola |
Lawrence |
|
| Caitlin McCarthy |
Methuen |
|
| Gregory Stamm |
Andover |
|
| |
|
| 1999, $1000 awarded |
| Recipient |
School |
|
Jennifer Pucci
|
Pentucket |
|
Kristen Munson
|
Andover |
|
Kara Harrison
|
Methuen |
|
Courtney Kelley
|
Haverhill |
|
| |
|
| 1998, $500 awarded |
| Recipient |
School |
|
Katherine Blais
|
Andover |
|
|
What Running Means to Me
by Katherine Blais
The dry air stuck to the back of my throat. The first call had already been made and I wasn't quite ready yet. I grabbed everything I needed and scrambled to the check-in area. My heart was racing uncontrollably. "Come on, relax. You still have a little more time before the race starts," I told myself.
The official called my name and I rose up off the ground to the table and got my hip number. I was ready. I had my "magic" flats on and I was all set for take-off. When the final call rolled off the official's tongue, the nervousness tingled throughout my body. Slowly it crept from my toes, to my fingertips, then all the way up to the very ends of my hair.
It was clear to me now what I had to do. Everything I had done, every workout, every letdown, every excitement and pleasure all led up to this one single race. It all had to come together at this exact point in time. I was ready. I knew it, my coach knew it, and now it was time to prove it.
The silence was roaring in my head as we took to the line, while the, crowd was hushed overlooking the start of the race. You watch as the starter raises the gun and you wonder when exactly that trigger will be pulled.
Isn't that reason enough to run? It is for me. I would never give up that competitive edge and adrenaline rush I receive right before a race starts. Running gives you so many pleasures and escapes. For me, running is a freedom. You can escape from any conflicts or worries you're feeling at any time and just enjoy what you love to do. All you have to do is slip on your shoes and run right out the door. You run over crunching leaves on trails, or pound away on roads as people turn to look at you and wish they were in your shoes. To me, running means all of this, and more. It also gives me a chance to prove myself. It's my opportunity to go out and show the world what I've got.
Running has also given me so much confidence about myself. I remember even freshman year when I first began running, I would run with a shirt under my uniform because I was insecure about my body. That t-shirt hasn't been worn under my uniform since my freshman year. As I've grown stronger over the years, I've learned to love my body more and more. I no longer look to another and wish I had what they had. I know my body now, and I know it well. I couldn't have had this kind of understanding of my body if I had decided against running.
Most of all, running means happiness. If I could go back and do anything differently in high school, I would never in a million years change my running. I can't imagine what high school would have been without traveling to all the meets, making new friends, and learning my true passion. To think, I almost missed out entirely on this sport! Luckily my brother convinced me to give it a try. I can't express in words how great an impact running has made in my life. I have such a strong love for running, and will be taking it with me forever.
|
|
