Dearborn Schools to Honor Bob Cipriano With Scholarship, Cross Country Meet

There were two things everyone within the Dearborn Public Schools knew Robert Cipriano loved: helping students and running.

On Wednesday, the district unveiled a plan that honors both passions of their former director of business services, who was killed in an

According to DPS, Cipriano had been working with district athletic directors to create a running program for middle and elementary school students that would encourage competition, lifelong fitness, and fun.

The Robert Cipriano Memorial Cross-Country Meet, scheduled to take place Oct. 19, 2012, will accomplish just that. Set to take place at a Dearborn park during the school day, the meet–hopefully the first of what will become an annual event–will include nearly 500 students in grades four through eight.

“We wanted to create an event that will honor the work that Bob did in Dearborn, help his family, and benefit a large number of Dearborn students,” said Superintendent Brian Whiston.

Students will train for the event in physical education classes beginning at the start of the year and continue for six weeks. Middle school students, interested in enhancing their running skills, will have the option of joining a local running club that is offering a cross-country program.

Mark Shooshanian, who serves on the Dearborn City Council and worked with Cipriano as Athletic Director of , said the cross-country program is a "fantastic" way to honor Cipriano.

"I live in the neighborhood (near the DPS administrative offices where Cipriano worked), and I'd always see him running," Shooshanian said. "He loved to run, so this is perfect for him."

Shooshanian added that Cipriano worked diligently to ensure that sports facilities and opportunities were always a part of the district's financial plan. In his lasting legacy, Cipriano's efforts will result in the end of pay-to-play sports for Dearborn students.

"It was basically because of Bob," Shooshanian said. "He knew it was always about the kids."

In addition to the cross-country meet, the district has committed to the creation of the Robert Cipriano Memorial Scholarship. The $500 scholarship will be awarded to one high school senior from each high school who has participated in either track, cross country, or baseball. Other details for qualifying for the scholarship will be determined by a district committee.

The announcement of the scholarship and meet in Cipriano's honor came on the same day that his 19-year-old son, Tucker Cipriano, along with 20-year-old Mitchell Young.

in connection with the attack, which also left Bob Cipriano's son, Salvatore, and his wife, Rose, seriously injured. , although their conditions are reported to be improving.

Salvatore's twin brother, Tanner, and sister Isabella, 8, were not injured.