• History:

Fritz Kauffman was a past president of the Hillstriders Running Club and the 1994 March Madness Half Marathon Race Director. An avid runner, Fritz completed over 100 marathons, including the 1995 Boston Marathon.

A University of Wisconsin Badger alumnus, Fritz died unexpectedly during the Sunmart 50K in Huntsville, TX in 2001. To honor Fritz’ love of education, the Hillstriders Running Club has designated a portion of the annual March Madness Half Marathon proceeds to fund this scholarship.

The Hillstriders Distance Running Scholarship was established in 2002 to assist McHenry County high school graduates with their first-year college expenses. Applicants must have participated in high school cross country or track distance (800 meters or longer) events.

• Importance:

In 2002 the Hillstriders Running Club made an initial donation of $5,000. Thereafter, a portion of the “March Madness Half Marathon” proceeds will fund TWO $1,000 (ONE MALE and ONE FEMALE) and TWO $250 scholarships (OME MALE and ONE FEMALE) each year. Any additional earnings/contributions may increase that year’s scholarship, or will be placed in the scholarship trust fund to grow in value.

• Purpose

The Hillstriders Distance Running Scholarship is available to all college-bound distance runners in McHenry County. This scholarship is not based on academic or athletic accomplishments. Our intent is to reward those runners who truly love the sport. While this purpose makes the selection very difficult, we believe that by supporting these runners we are encouraging healthy, productive and disciplined lifestyles.

• Summary of Scholarship Criteria:

• The Hillstriders Distance Running Scholarship is a minimum $1,000 non-renewable (one time) award and a $250 non-renewable award.

• To qualify, the applicant must be a graduating senior from a McHenry County high school, in good academic standing.

• The applicant must be a distance runner (800 meters or longer) on their school’s track or cross-country team.

• Applicant must have applied and been accepted at a college or university, and enrolling in the fall.

• Receiving the award does not preclude the applicant from applying for and accepting other scholarships, loans, grants or other aid.

• Application forms may be secured from the high school counselor’s office or the school’s running coaches.

• The Hillstriders treasurer will send the scholarship recipient a $1,000 check payable to the student and the school the student will be attending. The runner-up will receive a $250 check.

• Required Forms:

  
  

  1. The completed application form must be and sent to:

  
  

  The Hillstriders Running Club

  P. O. Box 1695

  Crystal Lake IL 60039-1695

  
  

  2. The applicant must also submit a 100-250 word essay.

  3. Recommendation from a teacher.

  4. Recommendation from their cross-country or track coach.

  
  

  • Scholarship Acceptance:

  
  

  A five-member Selection Committee will be appointed annually by the Hillstriders Board of Directors to review applications. The Committee will include at least one high school running coach or athletic director. The identity of the applicant will be withheld from the Selection Committee to assure complete objectivity. The scholarships will be awarded at the McHenry County Track Meet each May, or at the recipient’s school’s awards ceremony.

  
  

  Hillstriders Distance Running Scholarship

  Application

  
  

  Please submit the completed form postmarked no later than the third Friday of March to: The Hillstriders Running Club, Distance Running Scholarship Committee, P. O. Box 1695, Crystal Lake, IL 60039-1695. Your completed application must include your essay, a letter of recommendation from a teacher, and a letter of recommendation from your school’s cross-country or track coach or athletic director.

  
  

  Full Name: _________________________________________

  Home Address: __________________________________________

  Home Phone: __________________________________________

  Gender: Male ____ Female ____

  Team Member of: Track ___# of Yrs__ Cross-Country ___# of Yrs__

  High School: ___________________________________________

  Name of College: ___________________________________________

  
  

  • TO BE COMPLETED BY THE APPLICANT

  
  

  Essay – In at least 100, but less than 250 words, describe on a separate sheet how running has changed your life. This is a critical portion of the application that sets you apart. Fritz was always telling a joke or a story. Have some fun – share your favorite story or memory. You may also include school or civic activities.

  • THE FOLLOWING MUST BE ATTACHED TO THE APPLICATION

  
  

  A letter of recommendation from at least one teacher, verifying the applicant’s academic standing and discuss their leadership skills.

  
  

  A letter of recommendation from the applicant’s scholastic running coach discussing the applicant’s contribution to sportsmanship, team spirit, and their influence on the betterment of the sport of running.

  
  

  _______________ ____________________________________

  Date Applicant’s Signature

  
  

  Hillstriders Distance Running Scholarship

  Past Recipients

  
  

  2002

  
  

  Female Recipients $1,000 to Kimberly Jo Weidner, Marengo HS

  (Augustana College)

  $100 to Janelle Summerkamp, Jacobs HS

  (Elgin Community College)

  
  

  Male Recipients $1,000 to Christopher Stanich, McHenry HS

  (Iowa State)

  
  

  $100 to Gregory Haman, Cary-Grove HS

  (Undecided)

  
  

  
  

  Total awarded in 2002: $2,200

  
  

  2003

  
  

  Female Recipients $1,000 to Stephanie McHone, Crystal Lake So.

  (Augustana College)

  $250 to Katie Birn, McHenry HS

  (Southern Illinois University)

  
  

  Male Recipients $1,000 to Steve LaBracke, Marian Central

  (Northwestern University)

  
  

  $250 to Nick Fuhs, Crystal Lake Central HS

  (University of Illinois)

  
  

  Total awarded in 2003: $2,500
  
  

  2004

  
  

  Female Recipients $2,000 to Katherine Anderson, Richmond HS

  (Eastern Illinois University)

  
  

  $500 to Megan Matteson, Harvard HS

  (Illinois State University)

  
  

  Male Recipients $2,000 to Marty Ciszon, Cary-Grove HS

  (University of Illinois)

  
  

  $500 to Ryan Kunde, Marengo HS

  (Marquette University)

  
  

  Total awarded 2004: $5,000 (Additional funds from e-bay entries)

  
  

  2005

  
  

  Female Recipients $2,000 to Megan Hofstetter, Cary-Grove HS

  (Mars Hill College)

  
  

  $500 to Stephanie Erhard, Cary-Grove HS

  (University of Illinois)

  
  

  Males Recipients (Tie) $1,250 to Ryan Fuhs, Crystal Lake Central

  (University of Illinois)

  
  

  $1,250 to Mike Lawson, Prairie Ridge HS

  (Georgia Tech)

  
  

  Total awarded in 2005: $5,000 (Additional funds from e-bay entries)

  
  

  
  

  2006

  
  

  Female Recipients $2,000 to Jill Weidner, Marengo HS

  
  

  $500 to Rachel Grammer, McHenry East HS

  
  

  Male Recipients $2,000 to Joe Boyer, Marengo HS

  
  

  $500 to Nic Aubert, Crystal Lake South HS

  
  

  Total awarded in 2006: $5,000 (Additional fund from e-bay entries)

  
  

  Total to date: $19,700

Dec 28, 1938 - Dec 8, 2001