2026 SCHOLARSHIP WINNERS

Congratulations to Athena Joannidis on winning the @underthearch_charity $1000 scholarship for 2026. Below is a quick bio.

Athena Joannidis graduated from Fair Lawn High School with high honors where she was a varsity athlete on the Winter and Spring track teams, as well as the Volleyball team. She will attend Quinnipiac University in the fall to study Health Sciences with plans to pursue her Doctorate in Physical Therapy. She looks forward to staying active through club and intramural sports in college.

Congratulations Athena

Congratulations to our second recipient of the 2026 @underthearch_charity $1000 scholarship Cali Buxbaum. Below is a quick Bio

My name is Cali Buxbaum, I am 18 years old and live in Wall Township. I originally grew up in Toms River, and moved to Wall my freshman year. Growing up I always believed soccer was what I loved most. I always had a passion for running, but it used to just be something I would do to stay in shape for soccer. My sophomore year of high school, I fell in love with running not only as a sport, but also the community around it. Now, I no longer just run to stay in shape for be soccer, but because I love it. I will now be attending Boston University this upcoming fall where I will be apart of the XC and Track team and majoring in accounting

UNDER THE ARCH $1000 SCHOLARSHIP

APPLICATION FORM [https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeJ5Oxt0-IJqvpZO-seGe327Crp8WYrC0SjdujdxRYm8EgZ0A/viewform?usp=preview]

Eligibility:
-Students graduating from any high school in New Jersey in the spring semester 2026 or currently attending community college in New Jersey
-Enrollment into a full-time study program (12 credits) that will lead to either an Associate's or Baccalaureate degree. Applicants to provide acceptance letter from institution.
-Passionate participation as a runner either yourself or your family.

WHO WE ARE:

We are a 501(c)(3) non profit organization based out of Wall NJ, that provides for NJ runners and their families, assistance in a variety of ways. From sneakers to scholarships and everything in between, our mission is to give back to a community that has given so much to us. Being around the running community for over 40 years, we have seen how runners band together to help each other out, from just a simple you got this when someone is struggling in their training, to financial help in a time of need.

WHY UNDER THE ARCH?

When you run Under The Arch for the first time it is to begin a race and all the joy and struggles that brings. When you run Under The Arch again, you have come to the end of that journey where you are filled with excitement and accomplishment. All that training and hard work has paid off, now its time to start planning for your next journey. Let's spread that feeling to as many as we can.

WHY DID WE START?

Running and the running community has been such a blessing in our lives. Over 40 years ago, David Siconolfi and his wife Phillis started CompuScore, a race timing business based in NJ. A few years into the business their two children, Staci and Michael joined in. When Dave decided to retire, he handed the reigns over to Staci who still runs it today. Staci continued this tradition and has enrolled her son, Ioakim, to become a timer. Now as a family, it is our turn to give back. Our goal is to both raise money and help the younger generation understand The Power of Run.



IOAKIM'S STORY:

Growing up around running events my whole life, I have been impressed with the different ways charities have helped. I have always wanted a way to get involved and help the running community specifically. I also wanted to find a way for students to obtain volunteer hours while giving back to runners and races.



HOW YOU CAN HELP:

One way you can help the charity is by donating. It allows us to fund scholarships and other projects we have in the works. Another way is by volunteering for an event. This is a great way for students to get volunteer hours, but also for adult volunteers looking to lend a hand. And finally, spreading the word is always appreciated. This can be through posting on social media or by word of mouth.