From the Desk of the President . . .

Wow . . . we just finished up with the 4th annual Uplifting Athletes Run. The Lincoln Track Club provided its race organization experience that enabled the Huskers’ Uplifting Athletes chapter to raise $34,200 for pediatric brain cancer research. The UNL Athletic Department’s Life Skills staff provided the organization effort that went into the marketing and promotion of the event and, of course, assuring an amazing turnout of the football student athletes accompanied by support from many other athletic teams such as cross country, volleyball, and the singer of the national anthem from the softball team.Subsequent to writing this column, the tragic news of the sudden death of Husker senior punter Sam Foltz became widespread. Sam had provided volunteer support during this year’s Lincoln Marathon—a testament to his character and the impact the UNL Life Skills staff instill on so many Husker student-athletes. The LTC family extends its heartfelt sympathy to the Foltz family, all of the Nebraska football team players and coaches, and the entire Nebraska Athletic Department.  The LTC’s successful delivery of quality running events is being noticed by many other organizations within the community. As an all-volunteer organization, this is a testament to the commitment of many individuals. The result is a flurry of communication with various groups that we expect will bring some exciting changes to our schedule of events. There will be more to come on this in upcoming newsletters. However, we are happy to announce one new change—a partnership with Bryan Health, which will change the name of this year’s Governor’s Cup to the Bryan Health Capitol City Classic presented by ArtF/X. Bryan Health anticipates raising the profile of this event while promoting mental health awareness within the Lincoln community.Also, it should not go unnoticed that the LTC’s 3rd annual College Scholarship Award Program took place on Sunday, June 5, at the Jayne Snyder Trail Center. There were six recipients selected to receive $2,500 each in scholarship aid: two young ladies from Waverly and one from Lincoln East, and three young men from Lincoln Northeast, Lincoln North Star, and Pius X. Read more about the scholarship winners here. The scholarship winners also appeared in the June 25 edition of the Lincoln Journal Star’s NeighborhoodEXTRA. Those wishing to apply for a 2017 scholarship award may do so by obtaining an application from any high school head track or cross country coach. All applications need to be submitted to the LTC Scholarship Committee by January 31, 2017.Additionally, LTC is proud to announce that $34,746 was contributed in conjunction with the Lincoln Marathon entry process for designation to Project Purple, the organization formed to raise funds for pancreatic cancer research. As a result, Project Purple has designated these monies toward the continuation of the Project Purple Jane Snyder Fellowship Grant. The grant will support pancreatic cancer research at the Buffet Cancer Center in Omaha and help pay a year’s salary for a research fellow at the center. Most LTC members will remember Jayne Snyder as a former LTC board member who lost her battle with pancreatic cancer in 2011. The folks at Project Purple have scheduled a formal grant presentation ceremony for Wednesday, August 24, and LTC will have representatives present.As always, thanks for being a member of the Lincoln Track Club and for your ongoing commitment to the Lincoln running community. Your involvement enables LTC to give back to the community in many ways. If you are not running an LTC event, please show your support by volunteering.Glen MossPresident, Lincoln Track Club