Former Narraguagus High School racewalking standout Anne Favolise is the first recipient of the Al Heppner Memorial Scholarship. Now a senior at the University of Wisconsin-Parkside, Favolise won a gold medal, three silvers and a bronze in junior national championship racewalk events and was an eight-time high school All-American.

The annual scholarship, which was established in the memory of an American Olympic hopeful who died this year, will go to an aspiring athlete who has demonstrated ability and determination to rise to the elite level of competition and who seeks to represent the United States internationally.

Favolise was a collegiate All-American in indoor and outdoor track this past year after winning the women’s collegiate racewalking grand prix and finishing eighth in the U.S. Olympic trials.