Each year, the Lehigh Valley Road Runners offers four separate scholarships to eligible students planning to continue their education at the college level after graduating from high school.
Congratulations to all scholarship recipients and applicants on your tremendous accomplishments. We wish you great success in college and beyond.
The proceeds of the annual Emmaus 4-Mile Classic are the primary fundraising source for both the Ed Thompson and Nicole Reinhart Memorial Scholarships.
The club’s longest-standing scholarship, The Ed Thompson Memorial Scholarship, is awarded to an eligible Emmaus High School (EHS) male senior. Ed Thompson graduated in 1973 and initially went into the Marine Corps after High School. When he was discharged from the service, he joined the local road running club, the Emmaus Road Runners (ERR). The ERR later merged with the Lehigh Valley Athletic Association to become the Lehigh Valley Road Runners. Unfortunately, Ed developed a very aggressive form of brain cancer and lost his battle in 1983, at the age of 27. The Emmaus Road Runners initially started the scholarship shortly after as a tribute to Ed.
The recipient of the 2023 Ed Thompson Memorial Scholarship is:
- Oscar Felegy (Emmaus High School) attending Penn State (Main Campus) to major in Nuclear Engineering
The Nicole Reinhart Memorial Scholarship was established in 2001 in memory of Nicole Reinhart, a 1994 EHS graduate, who lost her life in a cycling race in September 2000. In high school, Nicole was a standout Track and Cross-Country runner, as well as a National Marine Corps Youth Physical Fitness Champion. This scholarship is awarded to an eligible Emmaus High School female senior.
The recipient of the 2023 Nicole Reinhart Memorial Scholarship is:
- Hailey Reinhard (Emmaus High School) attending Bucknell University to major in Mathematics
The LVRR Scholarship Fund was established to assist local high school graduates with college expenses and is funded by LVRR races and through fundraising efforts of the club. This scholarship is awarded to two eligible females and two eligible males.
Recipients of the 2023 LVRR Scholarship are:
- Owen Reilly (Liberty High School) attending Loyola University to major in Marketing
- Jack Huie (Liberty High School) Arizona State University to major in Actuarial Science
- Angelina Klein (Northwestern Lehigh High School) attending DeSales University to major in Physician Assistant
- Madeline Mumma (Liberty High School) attending the University of Pittsburgh to major in Statistics
Established in 2013, the Tom Illick Memorial Scholarship is awarded to a high school senior or college undergraduate, whose parents are LVRR members in good standing for 3 consecutive years or more. This award is a continuation of the club’s commitment to our members and its young adults to lead healthy, productive, and disciplined lifestyles. We want to continue to encourage their academic and community involvement as they pursue their college goals. In 2018, after the passing of long-time club member Tom Illick, this scholarship was renamed in his honor.
The recipient of the 2023 Tom Illick Memorial Scholarship is:
- Emma Martinez (Palmerton Area High School) attending Pepperdine University to major in Broadcast Journalism