With warmer weather on the way, many organizations have been rolling out the finish line ribbons to host 5K charity events, including the Senior Class Council.
The council hosted the event Saturday morning to help raise awareness for the organization and funds for the 2013 senior class gift — a donation to the Support Our Spartans Student Emergency Needs Fund, which provides financial aid to students.
The council is part of ASMSU, MSU’s undergraduate student government and benefits from its credibility among students, Senior Class Council member Becca Toth said.
The council raised an estimated total of $300 from the 5K event, with 15 participants running the race. The male and female winners both received iPod shuffles.
This year, the council decided to use the event proceeds to fund a different type of senior class gift than what typically is donated.
Senior Class Council member Grace Kim said the group wanted to steer away from giving a traditional landmark on campus.
“We wanted to do something more than just a bench or something like a tree,” Kim said. “We thought the best way to leave our mark on campus that could help students forever, (was) the Support Our Spartans (Emergency Needs Fund). We know that college is expensive and that a lot of students have issues paying for it, so we thought this would be the best way to help them out.”
The Support Our Spartans Student Emergency Needs Fund is run through the Division of Student Affairs, where students can apply for a financial grant in the event of a family member’s death, accidents, illness, fire damage or need for temporary housing. The grant is not intended to replace any financial aid and doesn’t need to be repaid, according to the Student Affairs and Services Advancement Office website.
Kim said the council is unaware of how much money it has raised for the senior class gift since it has taken pledges for donations, and it is unsure if those pledges will come through. It raised $700 at Full Court Support, a dodgeball tournament, and has done other activities, such as a flash mob, before a football game in the fall to raise money for the gift.
Microbiology senior Mike Bork decided to run in the event after receiving an ASMSU email and thought the event was a good way to exercise, while also helping out MSU students.
“It’s a good cause,” Bork said. “I know personally of more than a couple people that have fallen on hard financial times and something like this is a great way to help out.”
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