Scholar Scare 5k to support enrichment program scholarships
KALAMAZOO—Don't pack those costumes away after trick-or-treating on Halloween! The Lee Honors College invites runners, walkers and families at Western Michigan University and the greater Kalamazoo area to join in a fun Halloween-themed 5K/1K on Saturday, Nov. 1, 2014. The 1K fun run, designed especially for children, begins at 9:30 a.m. The 5K race begins at 10 a.m. Both events start outside the Lee Honors College building. An awards ceremony will take place immediately following the conclusion of the 5K—which includes prizes for best costume and chip-timed winners in various age categories.
This is the third year the honors college has organized a run to help provide scholarships for its student enrichment programs—Study in the States and Study Abroad. These unique programs provide students with opportunities for networking, service and cultural enrichment, helping them gain a broader view of the world and possibilities for their futures. Both previous 5Ks were held toward the end of spring semester and were called Scholar Scamper. The honors college decided to make a change for this year’s race. "We realized many runners scale down their training during the long winter months," says Carla Koretsky, honors college dean. "There were so many people telling us that they would have loved to run, but they just didn't feel up to it in early April." Koretsky also thinks the Halloween-themed run provides a unique event in the Kalamazoo area that should be fun for all ages. "We hope to see lots of families," she says.
Registration for the run is free for children under 10. Pre-registration (by Oct. 30, 2014, 5 p.m.) prices are $10 for WMU students and $15 for the public. Race day registration (from 8 to 9:15 a.m.) is $15 for WMU students and $25 for the public. A reduction of $2 per registration will be made for members of the Kalamazoo Area Runners.