The Run, White, and Blue 5K
Delaware Technical Community College held its third annual Run, White, and Blue 5K, on Sept. 1, on the Owens campus in honor of the National Day of Service and Remembrance, September 11.
Originally named the Roady 5K, after the mascot of Delaware Tech, students, staff, and community members can sign up in different categories to walk or run five kilometers. The event was later renamed to the Run, White, and Blue, in support of the scholarship for Delaware Tech’s veteran students.
Jason Bentley, the director of development at Delaware Tech, explained that the fund for the scholarship holds close to $15,000, and after this year’s fundraising goals are met at $20,000 total, the scholarship will become endowed.
“Once we reach the endowment, the scholarship will go on forever even if we don’t raise any more money, but we’re going to keep fundraising and hope to see multiple veteran students receive the scholarship each year,” said Bentley.
The current scholarship is $1,000, awarded to one veteran student who attends Delaware Tech on the Owens Campus. Bentley said that one goal for the future fundraising would be to add to the endowment, and create enough funds to award at least one veteran on each of Delaware Tech’s four campuses.
Along with the race itself, this event is sponsored by multiple community businesses and organizations, which bring food and prizes for the participants.
Dean of Student Affairs Dr. Melissa Rakes said that World’s Gym does a partnering enhancement to the race called a “pump and run” where participants in the race can lift weights and the amount of repetitions they do help deduct time from their race scores.
“There are two categories of racers: the regular-timed participants, and the pump-and-runners.
“We want to promote overall health and fitness, so this time deduction is a good incentive for runners who also focus their fitness in weight training,” said Dr. Rakes.
Other businesses and vendors including Kona Ice, Tony’s Pizza, Vanderwende Ice Cream, and Ellendale VFW, all donated their services to the participants at the race.
Delaware Tech’s Cross Country team volunteered during the 5K. Karin Ryndak, the team’s assistant coach, said the team was excited to help direct the runners and cheer them on.
The team, consisting of students from Delaware Tech’s Owens, Terry, and Stanton campuses, were excited to encourage their coach who was running in the event, said Ryndak.
"It’s a good experience for them, being on the other side and helping motivate the runners, the same way so many people do for them during their meets,” said Ryndak.
Delaware Tech’s Cross Country team consisting of students from the Owens, Terry, and Stanton Campuses, take a team photo while volunteering at the race. Photo by M. Bennett
Participant of the “Pump and Run,” Gemez Tull, recording his repetitions in the bench press to lower his recorded time in the 5K. Photo by M. Bennett
Volunteer displaying the 2016 Run, White, and Blue shirt, given out to all participants at registration. Photo by M. Bennett