FishHawk Road runners Club founder and president Steve Dunn, left, is joined by club scholarship fund winners Cormac McCarthy and Michael Babinec, along with club treasurer Mike Conti, during a recent award ceremony held at the Hit the Trails Running Shoes store in Riverview.
In harmony with its promise and goal of supporting its younger members, the FishHawk Road Runners Club has once again selected two local students that desire to continue as athletes in the sport of running at the college level, as recipients of the club’s scholarship fund.
“The scholarship fund was created to help local students from within our community with their college expenses, as a way of rewarding them for their support of the running club and the community through mentoring, volunteerism and as ambassadors to the sport,” said Road Runners Club founder and president Steve Dunn.
Since its creation in 2007, the Club has donated $8,000 to students graduating from one of five local high schools; Newsome, Bloomingdale, Riverview, Durant and Brandon.
Dunn, an RRCA Certified Running Coach who owns Hit the Trails Running Shoes store located in the River Springs Plaza in Riverview was pleased to present $1,000 each to Riverview High School senior Michael Babinec who is looking forward to attending and running for USF and Bloomingdale High School senior Cormac McCarthy who will attend the University of Florida in the fall.
“We normally give out just one scholarship, but this year we felt that both of these students deserved our support for all their hard work on behalf of the club as well as the sport,” Dunn said following the award ceremony held at his store last month and spoke highly of both students involvement with the club and achievements of the sport of running.
“A key club goal is to participate in as many local races as we can, with a focus on camaraderie, teamwork and fun, in which both Michael and Cormac each had their fair share,” Dunn said.
In expressing their appreciation, both students drew attention to the club’s support readily available both on and off the track or the trail.
“I am very appreciative of the scholarship award, but most importantly all the help that I have received from the club and from Steve, whose training and dedication to the sport as well as to the community helped me out so much, both at school and, in my athletic career,” McCarthy, said. “For all that I just want to say thank you.”
For more information, please contact Dunn at Hit the Trails 681-6141 or www.hitthetrails.com, or www.fishhawkrunning.com.
