Varsity track star from W.H. earns scholarship

West Hempstead resident Rebekah Heaphy, 17, a senior at Long Island Lutheran High School in Brookville, was awarded a $1,000 college scholarship last month by the Professional Coaching Alliance’s Triple-Impact Competitor Scholarship Program.

Named one of four winners in the New York metropolitan area in the nationwide competition, Heaphy — who is captain of the school’s varsity cross-country and track teams — received the scholarship, which is sponsored by the professional services firm Deloitte, for her athletic accomplishments and sportsmanship over her four-year high school running career.

When she heard about her win on Oct. 1, Heaphy said, she realized that she can have an impact on people through her hard work and dedication to the sport. “Cross-country is different from playing sports like hockey or lacrosse because you can’t cheat yourself or your teammates,” she said, crediting her athletic success to eating right and regularly attending practice. “You need to work hard so your teammates can do well.”

In applying for the scholarship, Heaphy wrote an essay detailing how she mastered the sport and exemplified leadership on her team. She also submitted references from head cross-country coach James Rea; assistant coach Al Sorenson; Carlene Badini, a sports administrator for the school; and two teammates.

Though she recently submitted applications to prospective colleges, Heaphy said that she had already been accepted by Geneva College in Pennsylvania and Liberty College in Virginia, and she was still waiting to hear from Wheaton and Grove City colleges.

“I just hope this scholarship will help me be able to go where I’ll be most valuable to the school and learn as much as I can,” she said.