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High School Runners Invited to Apply for “Love of Running” Scholarship January 6, 2010 — High school seniors residing in Columbia County who have run cross country or track and field are invited to apply for a Sean Patrick French “Love of Running” Scholarship. Applications, available from high school guidance counselors and at www.SeansRun.com, must be submitted by February 15 to the selection committee. Last year six local runners were each awarded a $500 Love of Running scholarship including Tom Accuosti and Chelsea Rose Bell from Ichabod Crane, Martin Holdrege from Hawthorne Valley, Hayley Madsen and Ryan Nightingale from Chatham and Imelda Muller from Taconic Hills Applicants are required to submit a short essay describing how running and participation on their teams has prepared them for the challenges of college. A letter of recommendation from their coach must also be included with the application. The scholarship fund was created by the family of Sean French following his tragic 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. Sean loved running and established several school records in his abbreviated career, finishing second at the State Cross Country Championship as a freshman. As a sophomore he took second at the state Track and Field championship in the mile, running the distance in 4:18 as a 16 year-old. The scholarship fund also supports four other annual scholarships including two for Cross Country runners selected by Section II high school coaches and two for Chatham High School seniors. The scholarship fund is administered by the Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation. It was established using a portion of the proceeds from the inaugural Sean’s Run in 2002 and is supported through ongoing contributions from family and friends. More information about the scholarships and Sean’s Run is available at www.SeansRun.com. |