More than $132,000 in scholarships has been awarded since 1991
GREEN BAY — Top place finishers at this year’s Bellin Run won’t be the only winners of the day. That’s because a portion of the registration fees from the annual event will be set aside for a scholarship to benefit students at Bellin College.
Since 1991, a portion of each Bellin Run participant’s entry fee has been set aside for the Bellin College scholarship fund. The Bellin Run will take place at 8 a.m., Saturday, June 13. A record 15,149 registrants signed up for the run in 2008. Organizers are gearing up for another potential record-breaking registration this year.
“There was about $12,000 raised for the Bellin College scholarship fund last year,” said college spokesman Matt Rentmeester. “Since 1991, that contribution has totaled more than $132,000. We are thankful and feel fortunate for the support the Bellin Run provides our students each year.”
Almost 10 years ago, Tia Schartner, now team leader for Bellin’s Christoph Pediatric Department, was one of those students helped by the scholarship fund.
“The Bellin Run scholarship was a financial boost for me while earning my nursing degree,” she said. “Every year that the Bellin Run grows, it means additional scholarship dollars are available to help student nurses ease their tuition burdens.” Schartner also is the Bellin Run Kids for Running program coordinator.
Bellin College president Dr. Jane Muhl says she too is appreciative of the support the Bellin Run provides to the area’s future nurses and caregivers, especially given the looming national shortage of qualified nurses.
The American Association of Colleges of Nursing recently reported that the shortage of registered nurses in the United States will increase to 320,000 positions by 2020, while the U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration projects the shortage will be more than 1 million by that time.
“Estimates vary, however, we’re certain there will indeed be a shortage of qualified nurses,” Muhl said. “The scholarship provided by the Bellin Run will go a long way toward helping us combat that shortage in Northeast Wisconsin.”
Online registration for the Bellin Run is underway at www.bellinrun.com. Late online registration June 1-11 is $20. Mail-in registration June 1-11 is $23. On race weekend, participants can register after 4 p.m. June 12 through race day for $25 at the Astor Park registration tent. All participants receive a Bellin Run T-shirt.
