On Sunday (August 10, 2014), nine area high school senior recipients received memorial scholarships from the Tamaqua Runners Club for last year’s Chris & Kevin Truskey Memorial Run / Walk. The awards consisted of six $750 awards and three $500 awards. First place spots received a $750 scholarship. Second place spots received a $500 scholarship.

Page down to view more photos from the scholarship presentation.

Receiving the memorial scholarships were:
– First place Tamaqua senior male finisher – Zachary Oliveria, who plans to attend LCCC;
– First place Tamaqua senior female finisher – Stefanie Gensure, who plans to attend Penn State University;
– First place Schuylkill League male – Stuart Blair, from Blue Mountain, who plans to attend University of Pittsburg;
– First place Schuylkill League female – Paige Stoner, from Pottsville, who plans to attend Lipscomb Tennessee;
– First place Secondary Scholarship male from out of the area – Tyler Ravert, from Conrad Weiser, who plans to attend Susquehanna.
– First place Secondary Scholarship female from out of the area – Kirsten Lebo, from Conrad Weiser, who plans to attend Moravian.
– Second place Schuylkill League male – Benjamin Ronemus, from Lehighton, who plans to attend Lock Haven.
– Second place Schuylkill League female – Abigail Warner, from North Schuylkill, who plans to attend Edinbore.
– Second place Secondary Scholarship male from out of the area – Drew Gantert, from Conrad Weiser, who plans to attend Temple.

The reason there are two male recipients from Conrad Weiser is because their run times were only a split second apart.

The memorial scholarship presentation was in prelude to the 24th annual Chris and Kevin Truskey Memorial Run & Walk set for Saturday (August 23, 2014) at the Tuscarora State Park. The competitive event will consist of a 5K walk, 5K run and 10K run and travel through the park and macadam road surfaces of the scenic Tuscarora State Park. It will also include free food, beverages, door prizes for participants. In addition, plaques will be awarded to overall 5-K & 10-K winners, with medals given to other age categories.
The race was first held in 1991 to honor the memory of Chris Truskey, who died as a result of a car accident in September of 1990, only a few months after his Tamaqua high school graduation. Chris was a former high school cross country runner under coach Ray Edwards and ran practices at Tuscarora State Park. A family friend, Wendy Dunkelberger of Tamaqua, was approached about starting a memorial race for Chris Truskey. Dunkelberger got together with the Truskey family, Drew Benyo of Jim Thorpe, and other volunteers and friends to organize the run.
This also lead to the creation of the Tamaqua Runners Club (TRC). Serving in the club are officers Dunkelberger, who serves as President; Wayne Truskey (Chris’s and Kevin’s father), Vice President; Pat Truskey (mother), member; Debbie Thompson, treasurer; and Marie Houser, secretary.
In 2002, Chris’s younger brother Kevin, also a Tamaqua cross-country runner, died as a result of a car accident. Kevin was a former Schuylkill League Champion on the Tuscarora Park course. That resulted in the race to be renamed as the Chris and Kevin Truskey Memorial Run / Walk. Originally the scholarships were given only to a Tamaqua senior boy and girl.
“What started out to be a small race has grown throughout the past 24 years to be a much bigger event than was imagined, with numbers as high as 420,” said Dunkelberger.  “This race has been made possible through the many contributions of local businesses and shirt sponsors, of whom have been sponsors since the first race 23 years ago.”
“We appreciated the dedication of all the volunteers who come together on race day to help,” said Pat Truskey, who added that hundreds of participants join in the race every year.
Organizers encourage participants to arrive early to register for the run/walk, which starts sharply at 10 AM. She added that volunteers are always welcome to show up early and help.
For more information about the event, call Wayne or Patricia Truskey at (570) 386-2922, via Facebook or email truskey@ptd.net.
Proceeds of the run /walk will benefit next year’s Truskey Memorial Scholarship Fund winners.
Click HERE for more information about the upcoming Truskey run.