Communitywide race and fun run has Halloween theme

Scholar Scare logo
The Halloween-themed Scholar Scare will take place on Nov. 1

KALAMAZOO, Mich.—Don't pack away those costumes after the parties and trick-or-treating are done on Halloween.

The Lee Honors College at Western Michigan University invites members of the campus community and the greater Kalamazoo area to participate in a Halloween-themed 5K race and 1K fun run Saturday, Nov. 1.

The 1K fun run, designed especially for children, begins at 9:30 a.m. while the 5K race begins at 10 a.m. Both events start outside the Lee Honors College Building on the main WMU campus. Same-day registration will take place from 7 to 9:30 a.m. in the honors college building.

Immediately following the race, there will be an awards ceremony featuring prizes for best costume as well as for chip-timed winners in various age categories.

Scholar Scare

This is the third year WMU's Lee Honors College has organized a run to help provide scholarships for its Study in the States and Study Abroad student enrichment programs. 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 5K races were held toward the end of spring semester and called a 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 Dr. Carla Koretsky, dean of the college. "There we 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 says she also thinks the Halloween-theme 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, related details

Children under age 10 may participate in the fun run at no cost, and members of the Kalamazoo Area Runners receive $2 off their registrations.

The specific fee for either the run or race depends on whether participants pre-register by 5 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 30. If preregistering, the cost is $10 for WMU students and $20 for others. If registering event day, the cost is $15 for WMU students and $25 for others.

Online registration is required. To register, visit tinyurl.com/scholarscare or stop in at the Lee Honors College for assistance. To obtain a map to the honors college building or nearby parking areas, visit wmich.edu/maps/printables.php.

Direct questions to Jane Baas, associate dean of the Lee Honors College, at jane.baas@wmich.edu or (269) 387-3230. For information, visit wmich.edu/honors.

For more news, arts and events, visit wmich.edu/news.