The South Coast Running Club gives a $1,000 scholarship annually to a Coos County high school senior or college student already attending college.  Recipient must enroll in college the next fall to receive funds.  Applicants must show a true love of running.  

Click Here for the Application

Applications are due April 1, 2024.  Send completed applications to SouthCoastRunningClub@yahoo.com

Below are some previous winner’s essays

2024 Winner Ben Swank

2023 Winner Aidin Wilson

Running has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember. One of my first organized races was in kindergarten. I probably didn’t understand the concept of a race, but I knew the faster I finished, the faster I could be in line for the snacks at the end.

 

My love of running really started in middle school. I joined the cross country team in 6th grade and found my sport. This led to running for a school team for seven years. I found running, but I also found other people who liked running. Besides the fitness aspect, running has played a significant role in my social life. I still run with many of the same friends I met on my team in middle school. We have been through hours of cross country and track practices together and have become close friends beyond just team mates.

 

I’m glad that I have never had any problems or injuries from running. I feel like I can continue with it as a lifelong sport. I am leaving the area to go to college and finding a running club is one of the first things I’d like to accomplish. There will be no better way to learn about my new home than hitting the trails with people who know the area.

2021 Winner Celeste Sinko

Before I had even learned to walk, I was a runner. Well, at least by association. My mother has been an avid runner for the majority of her life, and as fate would have it, a love of running was instilled in me. After I graduated from stroller cheerleader to novice jogger, I began my own running journey. I started running when I was twelve years old, and now as a senior in high school, I am the girl’s captain of the North Bend High School cross country team and a captain of the Track & Field team. Running is important to me because it allows me to challenge myself. Moreover, I value running in that it is a simple way to stay healthy. Lastly, I love running for the rich community in which it fosters.

Writing essays is hard, but it does not compare to the challenge of running. As someone who strives to perform their best in various disciplines, I am no stranger to hard work. However, running poses a unique challenge in that it requires my body and mind to work in tandem to achieve my goals. Yet therein lies the beauty of the sport; one must push themselves past their threshold in order to reap the tremendous reward. More so than any other sport, running is a test of wills. Whether it be sore muscles, insufferable wind and weather, or forgetting to wear the correct socks, each running day poses a distinctive hurdle. Runners champion these adversities, which in turn teaches us to be strong, tenacious individuals.

Another auspicious aspect of running is its simplicity. While other sports require specific equipment, running only requires a sturdy pair of shoes and willpower to finish the workout ahead. Moreover, I love running because it takes me places. Running doesn’t necessitate a training facility or an Olympic-sized pool, giving one the freedom to train anywhere their heart desires. The simplicity of running lends to its accessibility. Running is a sport for the people; it can be done virtually anytime, anywhere, with anybody who’s up to the challenge.

In every corner of the globe, there are runners. The camaraderie I have found in the running community is unlike any other circle that I’ve ever been a part of. We’re all cut from the same cloth; we share common qualities of perseverance and grit. Running has allowed me to forge strong bonds with individuals from many intersecting backgrounds. Complete strangers are able to bond over running shoes, times, training, nutrition, and so much more. It feels quite special to be a member of a community that unites people all over the world.

Running has shaped me into the woman I am today. This sport has taught me perseverance and serves as a constant reminder of my good health and fortune. Running is conducive to my overall health, it poses a challenge to my body and mind, and most importantly, running provides me with a sense of belonging. As I step into this new chapter of my life, change is inevitable. Places and people may change, but my love for running will always remain constant.