Thanks to a very generous gift, Rock Island High School Track and Cross Country Student-Athletes will be impacted for years to come.
Longtime runner Mable Velge bequeathed $372,000 to the Rock Island-Milan Education Foundation (RIMEF) to establish an annual scholarship for Rock Island High School Student Athletes.
Mable left the gift in honor of her son Steven who was a Rock Island High School grad, class of 1968.
Mabel was an avid runner and thought it would be only fitting to have the scholarship impact runners.
Through the Steven and Mable M. Velge Track & Cross Country Scholarship, each year two $6,000 scholarships will be awarded to one male and one female who have been members of the RIHS track or cross country teams and plan to further their education at a college, university or trade school.
On April 22, RIMEF presented the scholarship at the RIHS stadium.
"We want to thank Mable and her family for this very generous gift. We hope this will encourage more students to want to be involved in track or cross country, said Jarrin Williams, Boys Cross Country Coach and Track Coach.
The first Velge scholarship recipients will be awarded in May at the Austin Academic Achievement Award and RIMEF Scholarship Night.
Mable's friend Mary speaks about Mable at the scholarship presentation.
Girls Trach Coach Eddie Williams, Boys track and Cross Country Coach Jarrin Williams, and Girls Cross Country Susana Williams.