Staff report
A local running group recently made announcements about its scholarship efforts and the upcoming scholarship run/walk that raises funds to support the scholarship.
The 16th annual Tawawa Park Scholarship Run/Walk is slated to be held at Tawawa Park on Saturday, Aug. 1, beginning at 8 a.m. All competitive and recreational runners and walkers are invited to register and support their sport.
Local runners formed the Tawawa Park Runners, Inc. in 1999 in order to raise scholarship funds for and recognize runners. The group members receive applications and distribute scholarships to assist county high school cross country and track athletes who have graduated and are about to begin their college careers. Approximately $32,000 in scholarships have been awarded over the years.
The 2015 scholarship award winners for Tawawa Park Runners scholarship were recently announced by group members.
This year’s winners are Jared Tangeman and Regann Geise.
Tangemen recently completed his senior year at Sidney High School. His outstanding running career as a Yellow Jacket was capped by two seasons as cross country team captain and the second fastest all-time 5K time (15:49). He was All-Conference in in both cross country and track.
Geise qualified for and participated in numerous regional and state meets as well in both sports. She made it to the state cross country meet and the track meet all four years. She was a first and second team All-County selection in cross country in her career. She was an academic All-Ohioan.
Both of the selected candidates were at the top of their class academically. Geise achieved a 3.94 GPA. Tangeman was class valedictorian, ending his career with a 4.2 GPA. Both the winners also have impressive records of community service.
Tangeman will attend Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, and he will run cross country. Geise will matriculate at the University of Toledo.
Group members stressed that they cannot award scholarships to deserving runners without the support of the community.
All runners and walkers are encouraged to to register for the Tawawa Park Runners 5K event. It will be held on Aug. 1 at 8 a.m. at Tawawa Park.
Participants can register the day of the race or in advance by visiting shelbycounty5ktour.com.
