About

About the Meet Director
The Robert S. Shumake Scholarship Relays started out as the vision of a Detroit business owner Robert S. Shumake. As an all city track and field competitor, Robert Shumake understands the significance and the impact that organized team sports can have on a young person.  He attributes some of his many business achievements to the positive experiences he had as a member of Detroit 's Edwin Denby High School's track team. As an athlete, Robert saw the big picture and was able to transfer critical life skills from track and field to his real life situations. He learned discipline, dedication, perseverance, and teamwork. Today, Robert is a successful businessman and author eager to share his successes by giving back to the community. The Robert S. Shumake Scholarship Relays is an opportunity for him to help young people realize their goals by spotlighting student athletes and serving the great states of Michigan , Indiana , Illinois and Ohio . All proceeds from his book, "For Entrepreneur's who Have Considered Suicide when Business Got Tough" www.robertshumake.com go to support his scholarship program.

Community Partners

The Robert S. Shumake Family Foundation is working in conjunction with the USA Track & Field Foundation (USATF), the National Schoolastic Sports Foundation, the Freedom Institute , Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority and Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity. Each organization has made a significant contribution to the partnership. The USATF has made it possible for the Shumake Relays to be a nationally sanctioned track and field meet. The Freedom Institute has made the relays a part of their annual Freedom Week activities attended by thousands of Detroit residents. Members of the fraternities and sororities and Straight Gate International Church are serving as volunteers. We want to thank our community partners for their continued relationship and efforts to assist us in making this the best track and field event for high school students in the Midwest.

The Robert Shumake Relays
The Robert S. Shumake Scholarship Relays is a premier class A track and field competition for high school students across the nation. Its unique model is unprecedented in that it has a dual focus. The Shumake Scholarship Relay competition highlights both athletic ability and academic achievement. In addition to teams demonstrating superior athletic ability during the events of the day, prizes are awarded to the athlete on each team with the highest grade point average. Since 2005, over 2000 athletes (boys and girls) representing over 65 teams participated in this track and field event. This year an estimated 80 teams will participate with over 2,500 athletes.

Our Sponsors