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Sean’s Run Scholarships and Grants Applications Available October 22, 2014 - Chatham — The Organizing Committee of Sean’s Run Weekend, the annual community event that attracts hundreds of runners, walkers, bicyclists and Zumba enthusiasts from across the region to Chatham on the last weekend of April, has announced their plans to award grants and scholarships. Since 2002, the proceeds of the annual Sean’s Run Weekend, presented by First Niagara Bank, have supported two areas of interest: 1) scholarships to deserving high school seniors, and 2) grants to schools and youth groups to implement programs designed to combat the problems of underage drinking, impaired driving and lax use of seatbelts by teenagers. Sean’s Run has awarded $183,571 in grants and scholarships since 2002, thanks to the generosity of sponsors, donors and participants. The Register Star and Chatham Courier are the media sponsors of Sean’s Run Weekend. In January 2015, the Sean’s Run committee will award up to $10,000 as grants to schools and youth groups selected through their easy-to-complete grant application process. Last year grants were awarded to Hudson High School, Averill Park HS and MS, Dutchess County Council on Addiction and Prevention Education, Chatham HS and MS, Amsterdam School District, Maple Hill HS and MS, Mohonasen HS, Pine Plains HS, Remove Intoxicated Drivers, Choices 301 and Mothers Against Drunk Driving. Sean’s Run scholarships are available to high school seniors in three categories. The Sean Patrick French “Love of Running” Scholarship is open to Columbia County residents who have run cross country or track and field for their school. Runners from NYSPHAA Section II who have been designated as Sectional Good Sports during the fall cross country season may apply for the Good Sportsmanship Scholarships. Students from Chatham High School may apply for the Community Service scholarships. In the past 12 years, 92 students from across the region have benefited from Sean’s Run scholarships. Last year scholarships were awarded to Louisa Dodds, Taconic Hills HS, Devyn Fernandez, Ichabod Crane HS, Annabelle Hinkle and Haven Hutchinson, Chatham HS, Jenna Robinson, Guilderland HS and Jordon Johnson, Colonie HS. Applications for grants and scholarships are available at the event website, www.SeansRun.com. Applications for grants must be submitted by December 1, 2014. The deadline for scholarship applications is January 15, 2015. The scholarship fund was created by the family of Sean French following his death as a passenger in an underage drunk driving car wreck on January 1, 2002. He was a junior a Chatham High School, an honor roll student and an accomplished runner who established several school records in his abbreviated career. As a freshman he took second place at the State Cross Country Championship, and as sophomore he finished second at the state Track and Field championship in the 1600m, with a time of 4:18. The grants and scholarship funds are administered by the Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation.
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