5K Dash Raises Over $28,000 for Scholarships

Outstanding weather helped make for a successful event when UCBA hosted the 1st Annual 5K Dash for Scholarships on Saturday, October 12. 
A total of 425 people registered for the inaugural event, and the fall weather couldn't have been better as participants ran or walked in sunny and comfortably cool conditions.  
The event raised $28,595 to help support future scholarships for deserving students at UC Blue Ash. The in-kind donations of food and giveaway items from sponsors equaled another $13,180. 
"There is nothing more gratifying to me than helping someone pursue their dreams by giving them access to a college education," said Dr. Cady Short-Thompson, UCBA Dean. "Because financial barriers are the number one reason why our students are forced to stop-out or drop-out of college, we are grateful to everyone who supported this important cause."
The individual winners for the race were Izak Velasquez, of Fort Thomas, who came in at 16:36 and Leslie Kraus, of Cleves, who won the Women's Division with a time of 18:59.  The top walkers were Pat Darling of Sharonville, who finished at 36:15 to win the Women's Division and overall, and Brett Rankey, of Cincinnati, at 40:40 for the Men's Division. The top team participation award went to the UC Blue Ash Dental Hygiene Department with 25 participants. 
Most of the course for the 5K was on the 135-acre UC Blue Ash campus.  A section of the course went onto Plainfield Road and ran along the Blue Ash Golf Course before participants turned around and headed back toward the campus.  The City of Blue Ash and the Blue Ash Police Department were a tremendous help in arranging for portions of Plainfield and Cooper roads to be closed for a period of time to allow for the 5K. 
The Premiere Sponsor of the UC Blue Ash 5K Dash for Scholarships was Ohio National Financial Services.  Other sponsors included: Gold Medal Products, Co.; Infintech; Merrill Lynch Wealth Management; Champion Windows; Camargo Pharmaceuticals; Wornick Foods; Sam's Club and Modern Office Methods.