Peter ’78 and Denise ’79 Bloom established the Kenneth L. O’Brien (KOB) Scholarship, which provides both support and enduring camaraderie for UMass Amherst cross country and track and field student-athletes.

Every summer, recipients of the UMass Amherst Kenneth L. O’Brien (KOB) Scholarship Fund gather near Boston for a group run. Runners include scholarship recipients past and present, and they spend their run building connections and catching up. Afterward, they grab brunch and know they'll do it all again the following summer.

Established by Peter ’78 and Denise ’79 Bloom to support cross country and track and field student-athletes, the scholarship goes beyond financial aid to provide camaraderie that starts on campus and follows its members throughout their lives.

Since its inception in 2004, the scholarship has been awarded to more than 50 student-athletes, who have formed a close-knit group known as the KOB scholars.

“The whole idea is to help students,” says Bloom. “It turns out that, while the students appreciate the money, they much more appreciate getting to know other people—having someone to bat ideas around with and to have as a mentor.”

Bloom personally tracks each scholar’s progress, stays in touch with recipients well beyond graduation, and organizes annual gatherings, including the summer run.

More than two decades in, the KOB community now includes students from a variety of majors; alumni with successful careers in everything from higher education and business to medical research and cyber security; twin brothers; and even a married couple, who now have a one-year-old son.

“What set the Kenneth O’Brien Scholarship apart from other scholarships I received was the personal interaction with the founders and fellow recipients. The benefit wasn’t just about the financial support; it was about being part of a community Peter was actively building—a network of UMass student-athletes who excelled in the classroom and were leaders on a sports team.”

KEVIN JOHNSON ’11

That network continues to grow each year, thanks to a generous gift made by the Blooms in 2023 to expand the scholarship and establish an annual awards banquet that connects alumni with current athletes.

“It’s nice to hear from alumni about where their lives have taken them after UMass Track and Field,” says Marielsa McBride ’26. “That helps me envision what I might want my life to look like after UMass, too.”

The Impact of Becoming a KOB Scholar

While some student-athletes hear about the KOB scholarship from friends or teammates, many discover it through a cross country and track and field team meeting. They learn about the scholarship’s requirements, how to apply, and what to expect if they’re selected.

“They brought this opportunity right to us, which I appreciated. I work four jobs, and I probably wouldn’t have been aware of this otherwise,” says McBride. “I need financial support for my education, so getting selected as a KOB scholar was a really nice surprise. It felt like an exciting beginning of something.”

Scholarship recipients are selected based on their exceptional leadership in academics, athletics, and within the UMass community.  

“These scholars have learned how to embody Coach O’Brien’s philosophies,” says Bloom. “Even if they’re not the fastest or the most outstanding athletes, they put hard work into their athletics and their academics. They can juggle a lot of things. So, by the time they graduate, they know they can handle almost anything.”

For many KOB scholars, receiving the scholarship hasn’t just helped financially; it’s also a significant honor.

“I think this scholarship brings an additional level of responsibility and pride to my experience as a student-athlete at UMass. As a D1 athlete, I represent my team and my school, and now I also represent the community of the KOB scholarship.”

MICHAEL HARDEN ’26

For others, the scholarship has offered a sense of motivation.

“You almost become a role model for younger athletes who wish to become KOB scholars,” explains Godot Gaskins ’25. “Receiving the scholarship really motivated me. It made me realize I was being seen—that my work inside and outside of the classroom and on the track team was being recognized, and I should keep that up.”

Honoring the Coach Ken O’Brien

One key aspect of the scholarship is to pay homage to its namesake, Kenneth “Ken” O’Brien, the longtime cross country and track and field coach who spent more than 50 years shaping the lives of UMass runners.

“Coach had such an amazing career and long tenure. It spanned multiple generations over his 50-plus years in the role. He had high standards for everyone, and it elevated the way we viewed ourselves.”

SAM LAORENZA ’10

But his leadership extended far beyond athletics.

“Coach O’Brien was not only the track and field coach, but also a life coach,” say Andrew ’12 and Deanna Erwin ’12. “In addition to dispensing awesome workouts, coach also passed on wise life lessons.”

Bloom fondly recalls one of the first lessons he learned from O’Brien. “He said to us, ‘At UMass, you can run track, you can do well academically, or you can have a strong social life—but you can only do two of those well. Choose wisely.’”

It was a sentiment that stuck with Bloom, who admits he was just an “okay” runner, but he opted to prioritize academics and track. Later, when Bloom applied to more than two dozen law and business schools during his senior year, O’Brien said he could take a break from cross country to focus on applications.

“He was a great leader and mentor,” says Bloom. “He taught me a lot about life.”

It was because of O’Brien that Ryan Durkin ’08, the first KOB scholarship recipient, reached out to Peter Bloom to discuss his career aspirations. The two quickly bonded over their shared passion for business and entrepreneurship.

“Peter really became a mentor to me,” says Durkin. “It’s 20 years later now, and he’s still one of the most impactful people I’ve ever met. He’ll be at my wedding in July. I also grew up without a dad so, looking back, I’ve realized how important it was for me to have a positive male role model in my life.”

Deep Connections and Commitment to Mentorship

A lifelong learner and entrepreneur, Bloom has worked hard to ensure all KOB scholars get something valuable out of the community, especially when determining the next step in their academic or professional careers.

“You could ask Peter about any job on the planet, and he would have a connection for you, whether it’s track alums or KOB scholars. He lets us know that there’s always someone who can help or provide mentorship.”

MEGAN FRAZEE ’26

Bloom’s deep connections and commitment to mentorship have made him a trusted resource for scholars navigating their futures.

“Peter is so plugged in on an individual level with all of us,” McBride says. “I’m an anthropology major in the Honors College, and Peter has gone out of his way numerous times to get me in contact with other anthropologists who are already out in the field. He continually expresses such care for us. It’s so wonderful.”

Because the scholarship has been going strong for two decades, early KOB scholars who benefitted from Bloom’s professional connections have gone on to use their own experience and expertise to help new scholars find their footing, too.

Durkin, for example, has mentored several student-athletes he met through O’Brien and current Director of Track and Field and Cross Country Dave Jackson.

“Some of them are my favorite people now. I’m always trying to figure out how can I help students who are interested in my line of work,” Durkin says. “This community offers a great opportunity to help students manage that transition from college to the working world.”

Paying it Forward

Bloom has built the scholarship community around a pay-it-forward mentality. As undergraduates, students receive alumni support and give back when they’re able to ensure future scholars have the same opportunities.

“After receiving the scholarship for the first time, Peter made a comment on a run about us eventually giving back to the scholarshipAfter that, I promised myself that I would give back to the university more than I got out of it. The idea of paying it forward to the next group compounds when you have a community doing the same thing.”

DAVID JOHNSON ’11

Even those who haven’t yet graduated have plans to give back.  

“As one of the few education majors in the KOB community, I’ve benefited from connecting with alumni for career advice and guidance. I want to be that same resource for someone studying a similar field,” says Jennifer Williams ’26. “Knowing that someone is there to support you makes a huge difference, and that’s the role I hope to play.”

For most scholars, staying connected after graduation isn’t even a question—it’s a given.

“I'm incredibly grateful for this scholarship, but my desire to stay involved with the KOB scholar community goes beyond that,” Gaskins says. “Peter and past KOB winners have given so much to me and to all scholarship recipients. It’s only right that I continue the tradition and give back to the UMass track and field community.”

Bloom hopes to expand the program to support more students each year, increasing both the financial award and the number of recipients.

“I’m trying to give a scholarship to every single student who applies and who qualifies,” says Bloom.

He also wants to create something that lasts. So far, it’s working.

“When I got the KOB scholarship, I didn’t imagine that 15 years after I’d graduated, I’d still be involved in it and that there’d still be a community like this,” says Laorenza. “It certainly exceeded all the expectations I could’ve had for it, and I’m grateful to be part of it.”

Learn more about the Kenneth O’Brien Scholarship.