FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Houston Marathon Foundation Announces
the Susan Poorman Blackie Scholarship Winners
HOUSTON (July 2, 2015) - The Houston Marathon Foundation (HMF) announced
today that Laine Zizka of James E. Taylor High School and Chris Winski of
Morton Ranch High School were named the first recipients of the Susan
Poorman Blackie Scholarship. The two stand-out students and former high
school cross country runners will each receive a $5,000 scholarship grant
annually for four years, totaling $20,000 in financial aid toward their
college tuitions.
The scholarship was created in honor of Susan Poorman Blackie, co-founder
of the HMF and long-time Houston Marathon Committee volunteer board member.
The Susan Poorman Blackie Scholarship is designed to recognize
student-athletes in the Greater Houston Region who have demonstrated
academic success, participated in high school cross country running,
volunteered for extracurricular activities and applied to attend a college
or university in the state of Texas.
"We are honored to support these two remarkable student-athletes over the
next four years as they pursue their academic goals, and grateful for all
of the wonderful young men and women who applied this year," said HMF Board
President Maddie Bunch. "The announcement of the first scholarship
recipients is special because both individuals are so deserving, but it is
also so meaningful because it recognizes a wonderful, passionate and
generous friend who meant so much to our organization."
Both student-athletes were captains of their respective cross country teams
and members of the National Honor Society. A member of the school marching
and concert band at Morton Ranch, Winske plans on running track and cross
country at the University of Incarnate Word in San Antonio this Fall.
"Chris is the best distance runner that Morton Ranch High School has ever
produced, and as great a runner that Chris is, he is twice the person,"
said Shawn Siemers, Head Cross Country Coach at Morton Ranch High School.
"One of the best kids I've ever known."
Zizka, who was in the Spanish Club, a member of the Student Council and
Editor in Chief of the school paper at Katy Taylor High School, will be
attending Texas Christian University.
"Laine is an exceptionally mature and caring young woman," said former
James E. Taylor High School Cross Country Coach Amy Pitzel. "She has a
giant heart and makes people and things around her better. She has been
running her whole life and will be a lifetime runner."
In addition to supporting these two students over the next four years, the
Susan Poorman Blackie Scholarship will again be awarded in the Summer of
2017 to two students from the 2016 or 2017 high school graduating classes.
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