2020 Scholarship Committee (left to right):Barbara Deffley, Dot Ouellette, Meredith Longo, Neal Novak, Wendy Lee, Leslie Billowitch [Missing Jackie Karpow, Terry Norcott-Gibbons]
The Lehigh Valley Road Runners (LVRR) offers four separate scholarships to eligible students planning to continue their education at the college level after graduating from high school. This year’s scholarships were presented on July 1 at the LVRR Clubhouse. As we are in our “new normal”, our awards presentation had a much different feel this year. We invited the winners and their families to arrive at staggered times for their own personal ceremony with the Scholarship committee. While there may not have been the Press and hundreds of LVRR members to congratulate them, our mighty group of 7 cheered loudly and had one on one conversations with each winner, hand sanitizer, face masks and all.
Over the years, LVRR has awarded over $225,000 in Scholarships. Once again, we had a record-setting year as we received 36 applicants for the 4 scholarships. These students have set the bar and are surely making our job difficult to only choose 7 winners. The Scholarship Committee is comprised of 8 Club and Board members with the LVRR Board Vice President serving as the point of contact.
The LVRR Scholarship is available to two young men and two young women for $4000 each. The Scholarship Fund was established to assist local high school graduates with college expenses and is funded by LVRR races and through fund raising efforts of the club.
Recipients of the 2020 LVRR Scholarship are:
• Jenna Groeber (Southern Lehigh HS) attending University of Alabama for Chemical Engineering (Pre-Med)
• Jillian Pote (Wilson Area HS) attending University of Pennsylvania for Mechanical Engineering
• Casey Frank (Liberty HS) attending Moravian College for Mathematics & Business
• Nathan Reimer (Parkland HS) attending Muhlenberg College for Biochemistry (Pre-Med)
The Tom Illick Memorial Scholarship was established in January 2013 for $2000 for a senior in high school 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.
Recipient of the 2020 Tom Illick Memorial Scholarship is:
• Aidan Connolly (Emmaus HS) attending University of Vermont for Mechanical Engineering
The Ed Thompson Memorial Scholarship is awarded to an eligible Emmaus High School 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 died May 23rd, 1983 at the age of 27. The Emmaus Road Runners initially started the scholarship in the mid-1980’s as a tribute to Ed.
Recipient of the 2020 Ed Thompson Memorial Scholarship is:
• Paul Petre (Emmaus HS) attending Moravian College for Chemistry
The Nicole Reinhart Memorial Scholarship is awarded to an eligible Emmaus High School (EHS) female senior. Nicole Reinhart, a 1994 EHS graduate, was killed in a cycling race in September 2000. In High School, Nicole was a standout Cross Country and Track runner as well as a National Marine Corps Youth Physical Fitness Champion. That next Spring (2001), the LVRR Board added the Nicole Reinhart Memorial.
Recipient of the 2020 Nicole Reinhart Memorial Scholarship is:
• Kaia Berrio (Emmaus HS) attending Ursinus College for Biochemistry
The proceeds of the yearly April Emmaus 4 Mile Classic are the primary fundraising source for both the Ed Thompson and Nicole Reinhart Memorial Scholarships.
You can learn more about our scholarship recipients here:
Kaia Barrio
Aidan Connolly
Casey Frank
Jenna Grober
Paul Petre
Jillian Pote
Nathan Reimer