Scholarship Program
The Black Hills Runner’s Club goal is to support and promote the running community in Western South Dakota. BHRC events raise funds which are used to host future running events and to promote running. Accordingly, as a non profit the BHRC uses these funds to support running related activities and to raise the visibility of the BHRC in the community. In this context, the BHRC board has created a scholarship program to help HS senior and college student runners advance their education.
Available scholarships for HS senior or college runners is limited. Given today’s higher education costs, any support for area runners are welcome. The BHRC will give two $1000 scholarships each year to deserving runners from Western South Dakota.
The benefits include:
- recognition and promotion of runners in our area.
- raise the visibility of running among young people in our community
- encourage local runners to pursue running and education
- raise the visibility of the BHRC in the community
- Another BHRC project that can be used to get run club members involved
A 3-4 member committee will manage this scholarship program. Announcement and distribution of the scholarship applications will be done through area coaches and schools. Applications and selections would be done by the scholarship committee or an ad hoc committee formed for selection.
To promote the selected students, the process will be completed before High School awards banquets so our award can be included. This will work to provide additional recognition for runners. We will release press notices to newspapers and local radio stations.
Aside from helping area runners, this scholarship program will increase recognition of the BHRC in the community. We hope raising our profile in the community will result in more memberships and greater attendance at our running events.
Requirements
The club will support two local runners (one male and one female), each with a $1,000 scholarship annually.
Scholarship recipients MUST compete at the college level. The scholarship will NOT be based solely on athletic ability. There is a scholarship committee in place to select the recipients. We will look at athletic, academic, leadership and citizenship aspects.
Please feel free to nominate as many of your athletes as you feel are deserving of this scholarship. This should not be limited to high school seniors. If you have a former athlete competing in college, you may submit an application on them. We will announce the winners in May. Recipients will receive their check when a college coach confirms the athlete is actively on a college team, to include redshirt or injury.
Past Recipients

2018 Female Scholarship Recipient-Tori Glazier
Tori Glazier, also coached by Karen Karim, has signed a letter of intent with South Dakota State University. Tori has had a distinguished career on

2018 Female Scholarship Recipient-Marion Hohn
Marion Hohn, who is coached by Joseph Noyes, has signed a letter of intent with Colorado School of Mines and Technology. Marion has placed at

2018 Male Scholarship Recipient-Max Oesterling
Max Oesterling, who is coached by Karen Karim, has signed a letter of intent with South Dakota School of Mines and Technology. Max is a



2016 Female Scholarship Recipient – Jamie Schweiss
Rapid City Stevens Coach Jesse Coy, Jamie Schweiss and Gary Miller, 2016 Scholarship Chairman. Jamie will take her talents to South Dakota State University!

2016 Male Scholarship Recipient – Chance Dooley
Custer High School Coach Karen Karim, Chance Dooley and 2016 Scholarship Chairman Gary Miller. Black Hills State University will benefit from Chance’s running skills!

2015 Female Scholarship Recipient – Emily Person
2015 BHRC Scholarship Chairman Gary Miller, Emily Person, Coach Jesse Coy. Emily ran for Rapid City Stevens HS and will compete for the University of

2015 Male Scholarship Recipient – Jacob Simons
2015 BHRC Scholarship Chairman Gary Miller, Jacob Simons, Coach Scott Peterson. Jacob competed in High School at Sturgis Brown and will take his skills to

2014 Female Scholarship Recipient – Savannah Childers
2014 Female Scholarship recipient Savannah Childers with Coach Andy Van Deest (left) and BHRC VP Gary Miller (right). Savannah ran for Spearfish High School and

2014 Male Scholarship Recipient – Brennan Witt
2014 Male Scholarship Winner is Custer Wildcat standout Brennan Witt, pictured with Coach Karen Karim (left) and BHRC President Kim Osberg (right). Brennan is competing