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Top students selected from talented collection of candidates
MINNEAPOLIS - Twin Cities Marathon, Inc. proudly announces McKenzie Melander (18) of Apple Valley and Pieter Gagnon (18) of Minneapolis, as its 2008 college scholarship program winners. Melander and Gagnon were selected for the $5000 awards from more than 100 applicants, all top track and cross country runners at their high schools in the greater Twin Cities Metro area.
Melander is a senior at Eastview High School in Eagan. She was an All-State Cross Country athlete as a sophomore and finished 3rd in the Minnesota State Cross Country Meet her junior year. In addition, Melander is a two-time All-State Track athlete and has earned 8 All-Conference awards. Melander volunteers in her community and said she plans to attend University of Iowa, where she will run cross country and track.
Gagnon is a senior at Washburn High School in Minneapolis. He is a four-time captain, 5 Eyewitness News Athlete of the Week, Star Tribune Athlete of the Week, three-time Most Valuable Player for Washburn High School and has numerous state and regional running titles including first place in Minnesota State Cross Country Regionals in 2007. In March, Gagnon set a meet record of 9:26.49 to win the 3200m run at the University of Minnesota / ROTC Indoor meet, also a personal best for him. Currently ranked second in his class academically, Gagnon says he plans to study engineering at the University of Minnesota and to continue to pursue his love of running.
"We value the running spirit these two individuals exemplify," said Twin Cities Marathon, Inc. executive director Virginia Brophy Achman. "It was a difficult decision because of the tremendous quality of those who applied. But McKenzie and Pieter's leadership and athletic determination and ability make them the perfect recipients of this year's scholarships. We congratulate them on all of their accomplishments."
The recipients were selected based on academic achievements, community service, running accomplishments (in either cross country or track) as well as a personal essay.
For more information about this year's winners and the scholarship program, visit: MTCMarathon.org.
Ryan Lamppa, Running USA Media Director
(805) 696-6232; Fax = (805) 659-0016
Ryan@RunningUSA.org
www.RunningUSA.org.
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