Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation

High School Runners Invited to Apply for Love of Running Scholarship

January 13, 2011

SHEFFIELD, MA—Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation announced today that High school seniors residing in Columbia County who have run on their school’s cross country or track and field teams are invited to apply for the Sean Patrick French Love of Running Scholarship. The scholarship is awarded to students going on to a college education. Applications, available from high school guidance counselors and at SeansRun.com, must be submitted by February 15.

Last year six local runners were each awarded a $500 Love of Running scholarship: Emma Gryner (Craryville), Philip Mastrosimone (Ghent), Chloe Metz (Columbiaville) and Shevar Thomas, Molly Koweek and Corder McCall (Hudson).

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 at 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: two for Cross Country runners selected by Section II high school coaches and two for Chatham High School seniors. The Fund 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 SeansRun.com.

Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation builds stronger communities and improves the quality of life for all residents of northwest Litchfield County, CT; Berkshire County, MA; and Columbia County and northeast Dutchess County, NY, acting as an agent for positive change in the region. Since 1987, Berkshire Taconic has managed a growing collection of charitable funds created by individuals, families and businesses. Each year, the foundation distributes over $7 million through grants and scholarships for programs in the arts and education, health and human services and environmental protection, helping thousands of donors achieve their philanthropic goals and hundreds of nonprofits carry on their good work. Berkshire Taconic is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit public charity.

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