Students Run (and Walk) for Funds

By TAYLOR LEONARD

The Advanced Studies Program community will engage in the second annual Fundraising Walk/Run, commonly known as the Fun Run, today to raise scholarship money for next year’s ASP participants.

The Fun Run, officially organized last year, represents one way for students of the ASP to give back to the program. Every dollar raised by an ASP student or staff member goes directly towards the tuition of a student in next year’s ASP class who needs financial aid.

Through the efforts of last year’s participants, two students received full scholarships for the current 2010 program, equivalent to a total of about $6,000. The students raised the cost of one scholarship through donations from family and friends and an anonymous donor contributed the funds for the other.

The anonymous contributor heard about the Fun Run last year and generously offered to match the monetary donations raised by students and staff. This year the contributor again has offered to match the amount of money raised by the ASP Community, up to the cost of a full scholarship, or about $3,250.

This year’s Fun Run course is two miles long. The course starts at the track near the Blass Club House, continues through the cross country course and ends back at the Club House. It will take place during the regularly scheduled athletic session from 3 to 4:30 PM.

The ASP staff try to make the run as fun as possible by playing music plays to energize participants at the beginning and at the end of the race. The track selection consists of “good tunes like the Rocky theme song,” said Courtney Jackson, Assistant Director of the Advanced Studies Program. At the end of the race, participants are rewarded with water and watermelon.

All ASP students and interns are required to be physically present for the event, but many hope that participation will not stop there.

“I want everyone in Con-20 to donate at least $25 dollars” said Lynsdey Colburn Conover 20 House Supervisor.

Donations are not required, but the dorm that receives the most donations will be eligible for an additional feed.

Students around campus are interested in giving back to the ASP community and the extra feed.

“My family donated money and I am excited to run; it will be something to do (to benefit the program),” said Jessica Root, a student in Ford House.

However, not every student is thrilled about participating.

“I wish it was optional. It feels like it will be a competition,” said Sam Leclerc. She felt that if the run was voluntary more people would be excited.

People might have been even more excited and participated more if they had enough time to accumulate donations. “I am probably not going to donate. There was no time to walk around the neighborhood asking for donations,” said Sarah Desrochers of Drury House.

Others, however, indicated that they succeeded in obtaining support for their fundraising efforts.

“I got money from my family and friends. It will also be cool to see the community come together and share a common goal,” said Steven Heck of North House.

Overall, the common goal of the ASP Fundraising Walk/Run is to gather the community together and help the community of St. Paul’s. “We want to create a tradition and pass along to the next class the culture of giving” said Geoff Edwards, Assistant Director of the Advanced Studies Program.

In addition to the Fun Run, the ASP maintains an Annual Fund, used for scholarships, accumulated through donations from alumni, past parents, and educators at St. Paul’s School. Typically, students are able to receive a full scholarship if their family earns $45,000 or less than a year. In the end, Mr. Ricard decides on the amount of financial aid the qualified families receive. Last year the fund totaled about $213,000, all of which went back to students in the ASP.