USATF congratulates the well deserving recipients of the 2023 USATF Journey to Gold Scholarship – aligned to the Journey to Gold strategic plan. The four successful USATF Journey to Gold Scholarship students demonstrated their commitment to achieving gold in their lives and have each been awarded $5,000 in recognition of their hard work and dedication. The selection committee identified students who most represented USATF’s Journey to Gold values, and had their mind set on achieving gold in both their professional and academic lives. Applicants were evaluated on a variety of aspects – with their GPA, hobbies, clubs, and other interests all taken into consideration. Here are the recipients of the 2023 USATF Journey to Gold Scholarship: Los Angeles native, Sydney Holden, has been involved in track from an early age, competing every year since she was five years old. The youngest ever USATF Youth Track Athlete of the Year (2012) and a USATF Junior Olympic record holder, Sydney has used her talents to benefit others, leading by example and mentoring youth athletes, volunteering her time to help develop skills in the sport. A freshman at Emory University, Sydney hopes to become the first doctor in her family. Tyler O’Neill, of Clark, South Dakota has long demonstrated a desire to obtain gold in both his academic and running career. During his High School career, Tyler showed talent in a wide range of distances, helping his team qualify for state meets many times. Off the track, Tyler has a deep interest in giving back to his community, volunteering with local organizations in his hometown that focus on supporting vulnerable communities. Interested in pursuing a chiropractic career, Tyler is currently attending South Dakota State University where he continues to push for gold on the track and in his academics. A native of Houston, Texas, Kevriana Scott has competed in track and field and cross country for more than half of her life, having participated at every USATF Junior Olympics since 2012. In high school, Kevriana was inducted into her school’s Hall of Honor and helped her relay teams to record-setting times in addition to her standout individual performances from the 400m to the steeplechase. Now a freshman at Oklahoma State University, Kevriana runs track and cross country while studying Nutritional Sciences with the goal to become a Physician Assistant. Indianola, Iowa’s Walker Whalen shows a drive to excel in everything he does, whether he’s in the discus ring or serving his community. The 2021-2022 Gatorade Boys Track & Field Player of the Year is dedicated to helping others, working as a violence prevention mentor, and volunteering at local homeless shelters. The Iowa native is pursuing a career in Physical Therapy, majoring in Exercise Science while striving for excellence as a thrower on the track and field team at the University of Iowa.