2008 College Scholarship Winners

The 2008 $5,000 scholarship winners, chosen from 83 High School applicants, are McKenzie Melander from Eastview High School, in Apple Valley, and Pieter Gagnon from Washburn High School in Minneapolis, Minnesota.   Melander and Gagnon were selected for the $5,000 awards from more than 100 applicants, all top track and cross-country runners at their high schools in the greater Twin Cities Metro area.

Melander is a senior at Eastview High School in Eagan. She was an All-State Cross Country athlete as a sophomore and finished 3rd in the Minnesota State Cross Country Meet her junior year. In addition, Melander is a two-time All-State Track athlete and has earned 8 All-Conference awards. Melander volunteers in her community and said she plans to attend University of Iowa, where she will run cross country and track.

Gagnon is a senior at Washburn High School in Minneapolis. He is a four-time captain, 5 Eyewitness News Athlete of the Week, Star Tribune Athlete of the Week, three-time Most Valuable Player for Washburn High School and has numerous state and regional running titles including first place in the Minnesota State Cross Country Regionals in 2007. In March, Gagnon set a meet record of 9:26:49 to win the 3200m run at the University of Minnesota/ROTC Indoor meet, also a personal best for him. Currently ranked second in his class academically, Gagnon says he plans to study engineering at the University of Minnesota and to continue to pursue his love of running.

Melander and Gagnon were selected on academic achievements, community service, running accomplishments (in either cross-country or track), a teacher/coach recommendation and a personal essay.

Twin Cities Marathon, Inc. College Scholarship Program

The Twin Cities Marathon, Inc. College Scholarship program awards a one-time $5,000 scholarship to one female and one male high school senior who participate in cross-country or track. Applicants must reside within the 11-county metro area: Anoka, Carver, Chisago, Dakota, Hennepin, Isanti, Ramsey, Scott, Sherburne, Washington, and Wright counties