In the 25th year that ITCCCA has awarded scholarships to Track & Field/Cross Country athletes, two seniors will receive $2,000 each towards their college expenses.
Jacob Flynn graduated from St. Ignatius College Prep in Chicago. He is an All-State runner, finishing in 17th place at the 2019 Class 2A Cross Country State Championship. He led his team to a 3rd place team trophy that day as well. Beyond running, his academic career is quite impressive. Jacob was named to the IHSA All-State Academic Team and is a National Merit Finalist for 2020. He will be attending Rice University in Houston, where he will pursue a degree in Electrical Engineering with a minor in Data Science. Of the impact running has had on his life, Jacob wrote, “Though training and racing are tiring and often painful, I would not trade this struggle for the world. I know I will face challenges my whole life, and the only way to become a better version of myself each day is by pushing through the barriers I face.”
Olivia Rosenstein graduated from Urbana High School in Urbana. She is a 3-time All-State Cross Country runner, most recently finishing in 4th place in 2019. She is also a 2-time All-State Track and Field athlete, finishing as the Runner-Up in the 3200 Meter Run in 2019. Her academic character is also outstanding. Olivia was named to the IHSA All-State Academic Team, and she is National Merit Scholar as well as an AP Scholar with Distinction. She will attend the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) this coming fall and plans to pursue a degree in Biological Engineering. She reflected on the impact she hoped she made on fellow competitors: “I’ve tried to continue positively influencing others runners, smiling on the start line, learning competitors’ names even when I’m the field’s top runner, and encouraging younger athletes who look up to me.”
