Teen remembered with scholarship run

MARENGO — When a blooming eighth grader lost her life in the summer of 2022, her classmates found a way to keep her memory alive.

The second Sam’s 5K Fun Run, held Saturday during Marengo’s Fall Festival, honors Samantha Maas and provides scholarship money for Iowa Valley seniors.

Maas was a typical teen, according to her mother, Diane. “She was 13, so [she’d] just become a teenager. She really enjoyed school and sports, hanging out with her friends. She played softball and basketball and volleyball.

“She did the normal teenage girl things,” said Diane Maas. “Swimming and video games and things like that.”

When Sam passed away, everyone who knew her sought ways to express their loss and to comfort and support one another.

During the home game after Sam’s death, the softball team wore purple socks and purple ribbons, and spectators dressed in purple — Sam’s favorite color — to watch the game.

“The community has just been great through all of this,” Diane said.

The softball and baseball teams made a poster with Sam’s softball number on it and carried it in the July 3 parade, said Diane. They all signed it and gave it to Diane.

“Monica Miller is one of Sam's coaches and helped Sam's volleyball team honor Sam by hanging the last volleyball jersey Sam wore over a chair on the bench for the season following Sam's death while allowing her teammates to wear purple ribbons in their shoelaces,” Diane said.

“Monica is also responsible for having Sam's basketball teammates provide me with a picture of them holding Sam's last worn jersey after the season.”

Miller arranged for a moment of silence during a softball game on the first anniversary of Sam’s death and arranged for the team to wear Sam 5K T-shirts during warm-ups.

“Sam's classmates have provided me much comfort which I cannot be more thankful for,” said Diane.

“And some of their parents are the ones who continue to offer a hug and kind word. They are also the ones who arranged for the remembrance of Sam on the one-year anniversary of Sam's passing with the gathering and releasing of purple balloons in Sam's honor,” Diane said.

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“And every classmate gave me a hug on their way out which was overwhelming and touching.”

“Janet Beherns has also provided support to both myself and Calvin through conversations and suggestions of memorial benches that could be put outside the school,” said Diane.

Beherns spoke at Sam's funeral. Several other teachers created a slideshow for the services using pictures Diane provided of her daughter.

“On a personal level, I have been provided love and support from the Dan and Leanne Slaymaker family. They were like a second family to Sam and now to me as we all grieve the loss of Sam,“ said Diane.

“And of course, my family, who also suffers through Sam's loss, are ever present and without whom I would not be getting through this.”

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Sam’s 5K is put on by The Ripple Project, an Iowa Valley school program that encourages mental health, kindness and positivity. Iowa Valley art instructor Lauren Klosterboer organizes the 5K each year, and students volunteer to help on race day.

When a student suggested doing something to honor Sam, Klosterboer thought of a 5K run because she’d organized them before and was familiar with the process.

“The main goal [was] to do something that everyone could come together and do,” said Klosterboer.

Sam played softball and basketball, Klosterboer said, but those activities limit the number of people who can be involved and require a certain level of skill. Anyone can walk or run.

“She was super smart,” said Klosterboer of Sam. “Hardworking. She was really good at art.”

Because Sam passed away in July, school wasn’t in session, though Iowa Valley teachers were available at the school if students wanted to stop by and talk, said Klosterboer.

The funeral in the high school gymnasium drew a large crowd; the 13-year-old made many friends during her short life, said Klosterboer.

“She was the kind of kid, she could have talked to anybody,” the teacher said. “A good kid.”

Sam’s Fun Run raises money for the Samantha Maas Bright Future Scholarship. Applications are sent to Diane and Sam’s brother Calvin, and they choose the recipients.

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Last year, Beau Long and Aidan Quinlan received the scholarships.

The scholarships are awarded to Iowa Valley seniors on the basis of essays they write about what they will do with the money.

“It doesn’t have to go toward college,” said Klosterboer. Students may need money for vocational school or internships.

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The 5K drew more than 120 last year, and more than 100 had pre-registered days before race day.

The largest group of participants are freshmen this year — Sam’s classmates. Others who are running are mostly local, Klosterboer said. “I think the people who aren’t local are family.”

“None of the 5K which allows a show of support by the community and the funding of a scholarship in Sam's name would be possible without Lauren Klosterboer,” said Diane.

“She is responsible for the ideas, creation of the T-shirt, all the communication and coordination of the event. I had never met Lauren prior to Sam's passing, but she is a truly wonderful and caring person. She can never know how much her efforts mean to me and my family.”

The level of community support for Sam Maas doesn’t surprise Klosterboer. “People here tend to lift each other up,” she said. “Sam touched a lot of people.”