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Earley Scholarship Enters Tenth Year
and Finds a Four Leaf Clover with Luley
Annapolis, MD – Erin Luley found me just 30 minutes before the launch of the 28th annual Great Chesapeake Bay Swim (GCBS) and told me with great confidence, “I am going to win the women’s overall and the Cynthia Earley scholarship today” as we were surrounded at Sandy
Point State Park by race participants, their families, event volunteers, helicopters overhead, kayaks positioning themselves by the bridges, loud speaker blazing with music and updates on tide, temperature and wave conditions.
The 20 year old from Mechanicsburg, PA was confident with good reason, she returns for her fifth GCBS and her fourth attempt to win the CEEF scholarship. She was fueled by her Penn State varsity swim training and her tried and true method of preprinted fundraising letters to family and friends. But it was something that could fit into the palm of a hand that gave her the advantage. She motioned her mom Nancy to bring over the heavily guarded item... In this moment, I was reminded of the youthful enthusiasm and a joyous attitude in the face of a monumental task (studying, training, racing, raising money, being a daughter to your parents) that is so much a part of these students...
I asked what could she possibly posses that would propel her to the front of hundreds of racers, most of which wearing a swim aided wet suit as Erin does not. She opened her hand and there was her four leaf clover she had just found in the grass upon her arrival that morning. Who would doubt her now? I certainly was not going to.
Luley Dominates on Land and at Sea
To describe how special this young lady is, you have to put in perspective what she has done for the GCBS charities and as one of the most dominant female athletes in the event since 2005. Erin is the Foundation’s top fundraiser, raising over $4,000 towards the GCBS charities and finishing no less than third place in the woman’s overall since 2006.
| Year | Amount Raised | GCBS Finish (women) |
|---|---|---|
2005 |
$250 |
4th |
2006 |
$300 |
3rd |
2007* |
$820 |
2nd |
2008 |
$1,525 |
2nd |
2009* |
$1,385 |
1st |
The contributors of the Foundation can take credit for assisting Erin in reaching her goal of becoming a Veterinarian. She will have a rigorous academic schedule at her senior year at Penn State and has committed to return next year to the event.
* Cynthia Earley Scholarship Winner
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