Prefontaine Foundation Scholarship Program
In 2005, the Prefontaine Foundation Board established a scholarship program to benefit Coos County high school students who have participated in cross country and/or track and field programs at their respective schools.
To qualify for scholarship consideration, the student must be a high school senior, have earned at least a 3.0 cumulative grade point average, have been a resident of Coos County since at least September 1 of the previous year, have participated in either cross country or track and field and have demonstrated exceptional dedication to their sport.
Each candidate is asked to provide an official transcript and an activities chart showing their involvement in school/family/community activities, volunteer service, and work for pay. Finally, the student is asked to write a 250-400 word essay on what one of three Steve Prefontaine quotes means to them:
- “Some people create with words or with music or with a brush and paints. I like to make something beautiful when I run.”
- “A lot of people run a race to see who is the fastest. I run to see who has the most guts.”
- “To give anything less than your best is to sacrifice the gift.”
The Prefontaine Foundation Board meets in the spring to review applications and to decide who will be the recipient of our $2,000 scholarships.
Best wishes to each recipient for success as they pursue a college degree and for meaningful careers after graduation.
During my freshman track season, my dad suggested that I try pole vaulting, since both he and my uncle vaulted when they were in high school. I agreed and thought that it would be a fun event to try. However, from the moment I took my first jump, I knew that this event would be […]
I will never forget my first race at age five. The kids Pre. The determination I had and the thrill of coming through the finish line. At age seven, running the 10K seemed like a huge feat for me. As I started heartbreak hill, hearing my parents cheer me on, I thought of myself at […]
“To give anything less than your best is to sacrifice the Gift.” Choose one of these quotes and write what the quote means to you. Type your essay on a separate sheet of paper and attach it to this application. (The awarded applicant will need to forward their essay via a word document to the […]
“To give anything less than your best is to sacrifice the Gift.” My favorite thing about this quote is that it applies to everything, not just running. Everyone has a gift. Whether it’s running, jumping, throwing, art, music, work ethic, teaching, caring for others, coaching, or anything else under the sun, it is a gift. […]
“To Give anything less than your best is to sacrifice the Gift.” I have chosen to write my essay about this Steve Prefontaine quote because it resonates with me. It exhibits one of Pre’s most important qualities and one that I strive to maintain in my day to day life, dedication. This quote means to […]
Steve Prefontaine was undoubtedly one of the gutsiest and most determined runners of all time. Most collegiate and professional runners have guts and determination, they give their all, and do their best. But Steve Prefontaine stuck out; he wasn’t just any great runner, he was especially gutsy. He once said, “A lot of people run […]
As a bilingual student, I’ve learned to give my best amidst adversity. Juggling to translate classes or not knowing how to order at a restaurant was tough on me. Back then, there were many instances when I would ask for extra help and step out of my comfort zone to improve my English and find […]
Some individuals are born with the natural ability to excel in sports. Without a doubt, one of these exceptional athletes was Steve “Pre” Prefontaine. From humble beginnings in the small coastal area of Coos Bay, Pre’s talent, determination, and grit took him to unimaginable heights. Pre and I are alike in that we both ran […]
Prefontaine was often characterized by his uncommon grit, dedication, light heartedness, and his ability to seemingly overcome any obstacle or challenge that came his way. Prefontaine’s quote of “To give anything less than your best is to sacrifice the Gift.”, is the best and most appropriate way to summarize his ability and personality. I take […]
The Legacy of Steve Prefontaine I’ve grown up in Coos Bay/North Bend all my life. Steve Prefontaine, or better known as “Pre” will forever be one of the most talented runners to ever live in this area. I never had the privilege to meet Steve Prefontaine, but my grandpa did. He actually ran alongside Pre […]
“To give anything less than your best is to sacrifice the gift” I wouldn’t say I’ve always loved running. My true love for running came when I was a third grader at Blossom Gulch. There was a teacher there named Mr. Edgar who every year did a presentation about a famous American long-distance runner named […]
“To give anything less than your best is to sacrifice the gift.” Walking into Prefontaine Track every year on the first day of preseason, it’s always slightly jolting. Part of this is the first day jitters, but mostly it’s that I am walking in the gates knowing that I am entering a culture of greatness. […]
“A lot of people run a race to see who is the fastest. I run to see who has the most guts”. This quote goes along with my beliefs. I grew up always hearing that you have to want it more than the other guy and I took that idea to heart. In the six […]
“To give anything less than your best is to sacrifice the Gift.” The name Prefontaine is well known around the running community, around the country and even around the world. While many have simply heard of his accomplishments, I’m lucky enough to have grown up in the same town that he did, running the same […]
“To give anything less than your best is to sacrifice the gift” Freshman year, late in my season, amongst the various preparations for the State Track & Field meet, my relay team and I were in the locker room puffy -painting our t-shirts. The senior captain gave us the quote “To give anything less than […]
“To give anything less than your best is to sacrifice the gift.” I take this to mean more than just about one’s own gifts, dedication, and training, but about the responsibilities that each athlete has to their teammates, team, school, and the opportunities they have been given to be where they are. For the past […]
“To give anything less than your best is to sacrifice the gift.” – Steve Prefontaine Growing up in the home of two All-American high jumpers planted the seed of my passion for track and field. The stories they told me of their track experiences taught me competitiveness, work ethic, and respect for the sport and […]
Those who have seen Steve Prefontaine run, whether in person or on video, know why ‘Pre’ was different. It was not the times he achieved or the greatness of his successes that made him legendary; it was the way he ran. One of Pre’s most prominent quotes is “a lot of people run a race […]
“A lot of people run a race to see who is the fastest. I run to see who has the most guts.” – Steve Prefontaine When I ran in my first race, I was in the fifth grade, I had never done a sport before, and I had no idea what I was doing. I […]
Every dedicated athlete wants to be successful, and that characteristic also shows up in their every day lives. However, success doesn’t come easy. Being an athlete myself, I believe you must always give your very best in order to receive the success you seek. Therefore, Steve Prefontaine’s quote, “To give anything less than your best […]
“A lot of people run a race to see who is the fastest. I run to see who has the most guts” Many times I have heard coaches or friends say that a cross country race can be broken down into three parts. You run the first with your legs, the second with your mind […]
“To give anything less than your best is to sacrifice the gift” Success came easily during my 2010 and 2011 track seasons, but 2012 was disappointing. My jumps coach took a leave of absence and instead of believing in myself, pushing harder, and knowing that I could compete successfully, I lost the self-confidence needed to […]
“A lot of people run a race to see who is the fastest. I run to see who has the most guts.” Prefontaine is an embodiment of everything I know and love about running. The one place I believe I learned most about life and running was when I attended Steens Mountain Running Camp. I […]
“To give anything less than your best is to sacrifice the gift.” Steve Prefontaine There is no better feeling in the world than the way I feel immediately after finishing a challenging cross country race. My breathing, heavy and in gasps, barely being able to stand up straight, the extreme exhaustion in my bones and […]
“To give anything less than your best is to sacrifice the Gift” – Steve Prefontaine These words echo through my head like the constant breath I take every time I run. Prefontaine fueled a community and an entire nation with his love of running. His passion for running propelled him into success and he inspired […]
He ran faster, but my feet are quick. He ran farther, but I have the strength to achieve great distances. I grunt and I yell, not to draw a crowd but to reach my goal. I am an athlete. I am a thrower; a gift to not be taken lightly. Passionate and dedicated to victory, […]
“A lot of people run a race to see who is the fastest. I run to see who has the most guts…“ Competition and the determination to improve has been a major part of my life since I was a young child. As a kindergartener I wanted to be the greatest artist in the world. […]
“To give anything less than your best is to sacrifice the Gift“ Growing up, I participated in many different sports, but never running. The first month of my seventh grade year, I had a stroke. It occurred when I was at school, in my second period English class. My slurred speech, facial droop, and no […]
“A lot of people run a race to see who is the fastest. I run to see who has the most guts…“ Many would say running runs in my family; my sister has always been the most competitive runner, my brother has always been the one who didn’t have to practice to be good, and […]
Coming from Coos Bay, Oregon, it’s very difficult not to know who Steve Prefontaine was. A legend, inspiring, admirable. These are just a few words to describe the late Prefontaine. He is one of the people to whom I attribute much of my passion for not just running, but racing. “To give anything lass than […]
“A lot of people race to see who is the fastest, I run to see who has the most guts.“ At the moment I crossed the finish line after months of grueling two-a-days training, I cried. When I saw my time and place, I cried harder. This was the single most memorable race of my […]
Any great artist, novelist, or composer will spend hours upon days creating the masterpiece they are devoutly passionate about. I too spend a comparable amount of time, energy, and compassion creating the masterpiece and achieving the goals I have set for myself and those around me. However, I am no artist, novelist, or composer. I […]
“To give anything less than your best is to sacrifice the Gift.” -Steve Prefontaine When people put a half-hearted effort into their dreams, they put a half-hearted effort into all that they do, and soon find they have half a heart. And a person who’s got half a heart gets half of the job done, […]
Before the summer of 2003 I had never dreamed my future would include the sport of running. As a child I grew up on the Big Island of Hawaii, which meant that 90 degree days with 99% humidity was the norm. Any sport that didn’t involve more than half of your body immersed in cool […]
“To give anything less than your best is to sacrifice the gift.” As I get into position on the starting line, I feel as though I am a monster being unleashed to expose its furry to the world. But as the race begins and the first mile is too far away to ever remember, my […]
During cross-country my sixth grade year, the name Steve Prefontaine meant very little to me. I was new to Coos Bay, and new to running. However, I quickly learned how important he is because on the back of my team shirt it said, “To give anything less than your best is to sacrifice the gift,” […]
“To give anything less than your best is to sacrifice the Gift” Every human on this planet has been given gifts. No matter what the gift is, it is given to us to be used. Some are gifted with art. Some are gifted with kindness. Ever since I was little I was gifted with the […]
“To give anything less than your best is to sacrifice the gift” – Steve Prefontaine This quote is very meaningful to me because I am experiencing a gift in life right now, the gift of running. This wasn’t always the case and I have learned from my past to never take it for granted. There […]
“Some people create with words or with music or with a brush and paints. I like to make something beautiful when I run.” Prefontaine could not have said it any better, and many since have tried; yet failed. For that quote perfectly fits the raw beauty of running. It has acted as a proverb for […]
“To give anything less than your best is to sacrifice the gift.” — Steve Prefontaine When you enter earth god blesses you with a gift of some sort. Everyone is blessed with some kind of gift; the challenge is finding what it is. Many people may search their whole life searching for what their special […]
“Some people create with words or with music or with a brush and paints. I like to make something beautiful when I run.” – Steve Prefontaine The track at Marshfield High School was Steve Prefontaine’s canvas; his running was his artistic expression. Each race was a new painting, a new poem, a new song, and […]
“A lot of people run a race to see who is the fastest. I run to see who has the most guts…” -Pre I was born running. It was a natural occurrence for a farm kid, the runt of the litter with domineering older brothers. If I wanted to keep up, I was running. If […]
“Some people create with words or with music or with a brush and paints. I like to make something beautiful when I run.” Although I never had the opportunity of seeing Pre run when he was alive, I have seen many films, read many books, and heard many first-hand accounts of his awe inspiring presence […]
“Some people create with words or music or with a brush and paints. I like to make something beautiful when I run.” – Steve Prefontaine I became a runner when I moved to Oregon. I’m not sure whether my family’s relocation to the Coos Bay/North Bend area, distance Mecca and hometown of Steve Prefontaine; or […]
