AMPle Opportunity to be Proud ! 

By Lou Slaces, running reporter 

      No one has ever asked Old Lou to be a member of the scholarship evaluation group here at GERWC.  Perhaps it is because of his 0.4 GPA in High School. ( Lou’s dyslexia led him to believe he was at the top of his class until the day of his graduation when his principal told him he wasn’t graduating that day) But even without being a member of the evaluation group, Lou can tell what it takes to be the winner of our 2 scholarships this year — specifically, you have to have the letters A,M, and P in your name.   And he is correct in this sense – our winners this year are Wes CAMP, of North High School, and PAM Weinzapfel of Mater Dei.  These two, chosen from an outstanding field of applicants, are the kind of young people we as a club are very proud of and happy to support in our own small way as they continue on with their educations.

 

   
   PAM Weinzapfel is a four year cross country runner, and two year co-captain of the Mater Dei girls cross country team.  She also ran track all 4 years.  She graduated with a 3.9 GPA and was in the top 10 members of her class academically.  This academic excellence  led to her being named academic all city all four years, and academic all state honorable mention based upon SAT and ACT scores.   She was a two year member of the National Honor Society, and  a Co-editor of the Yearbook.  She has received the Kiwanis award, a Knights of Columbus Leadership Award, and a Daughters of the American Revolution Good Citizenship award, so her trophy case contains more than just ribbons from running.  She was selected to go the  Young Women’s Institute through the Kelley School of Business at Indiana University in the summer of 2007, and she will be continuing her education at IU this fall.  In her essay, she reminds us that Robert Kennedy one said “ Only those who dare to fail greatly can ever achieve greatly”– and though it doesn’t sound like Pam has “failed” at anything so far, it is clear she intends to “dare greatly” in the future.  We are proud of Pam– she is the kind of person we know will be passing on her drive and love of the sport to many who follow her – and we expect to see her in the Evansville running arena for many years to come.  

 

   

Wes CAMP is simply a remarkable story about a person who has overcome more obstacles than most of us ever have to endure – and yet has still become one of the very best runners in the Evansville area.  Wes was born without a particular set of chromosomes, and the doctors were initially quite pessimistic about his chances for a normal life.  But from the looks of things now, those missing chromosomes must have been the ones that give you “slow”, because both his foot speed and the rate at which he accomplishes his other goals in life show that he goes fast all the time!  He has been an All City, SIAC, Sectional and Regional Cross country runner on multiple occasions in his high school career.  He has been an integral part ( and in his Senior year Captain) of the North High School Boys Cross Country team that has made the Semi-state in all 4 of his years .  He also ran track all four years.  Wes’ participation in all four years of his career is made even more remarkable by the fact that he was required to undergo some major leg surgery during his sophomore year-- during which his doctors told him his days of competitive running were over.  Wrong Again !  Wes simply wouldn’t let that happen -- he was a main contributor to the Husky Cross Country success in his Senior year, and will be attending USI this fall where he will run with that outstanding program.

Wes carries a 3.7 GPA and is in the top 15% of his graduating class, and has been a two year member of the National Honor Society.  He has been a member of the Student Council 3 years, and his Class Council for 4 years. 

            He is a two time Kiwanis award recipient, and received the N-Mens award as the outstanding cross - country participant, the George Alvey award for the track  athlete who shows outstanding leadership and work ethic, and was named the  Rotary Club citizen of the Month for North High School in November 2007 .

So as Old Lou sees it, these two have an “A” for “Academic Achievement”, a “P” for “Perseverance”, and an “M” for “ Maturity” ( or maybe “Multi-tasking?)  in common.  And in fact, they have drawn us a “MAP” for how to find two fine young area runners to name as our recipients.  GERWC wishes them both the very best in their future endeavors, and we will plan to see them on the roads for many years to come.