Engineering student, varsity runner and non-profit cofounder Mary Blankemeier has won the University of Virginia’s prestigious Sky Alland Scholarship.

Blankemeier, the first School of Engineering recipient in the scholarship’s 26-year history, studies systems engineering with minors in computer science and applied math. The Oak Park, Illinois native earned a spot on the UVA Women’s Track & Field team as a walk-on athlete, competing in cross country as well as indoor and outdoor races.

Her passion for running led her to cofound Run Your City, a non-profit devoted to giving children of all socioeconomic and ability levels the character, confidence and good health that come from an inclusive team running experience. Within two years of its Charlottesville debut, the program now encompasses 350 children, 70 student-athlete volunteers and even a handful of professional athletes.

The merit-based Sky Alland Scholarship is one of UVA’s most competitive undergraduate scholarships. A committee of eight fourth-year students appointed by Dean of Students Allen Groves, and led by current Sky Alland Scholar Thomas Roberts, narrowed applications to a list of semi-finalists from which six finalists were chosen. The scholarship’s selection committee, which consists of UVA alumni, several of whom are also past Alland award recipients, then chose Blankemeier.

“Mary has already demonstrated a multi-dimensional entrepreneurial spirit,” said Kent Sullivan, chairman of the Sky Alland Scholarship Endowment. “We are delighted that she will be the 2020–2021 Sky Alland Scholar.”