Spartan Sprint Raises Money to Benefit Spartan Aid

Even the rain couldn’t stop the over 60 sprinters that came out to run and walk the 9^th Annual Spartan Sprint 5K on September 23. The sprint was held on Northampton Community College’s (NCC) Bethlehem campus where NCC staff, faculty, students, and community members gathered for the event. The race raised over $3,000 for NCC’s Spartan Aid fund, which helps students dealing with financial hardship to complete their education. Since the start of the Spartan Sprint in 2014, hundreds of students have benefitted from funds raised during the event. 

The NCC women’s basketball team helped to set up the sprint the day prior, ensuring a successful race. Runners and walkers began near the Oakland Road entrance of the college and ended in front of Kopecek Hall. Top overall male and female finishers received plaques and other prizes were awarded for finishers in each age category. The top overall finishers were Avery Krome and Liam Galicki.  

At the conclusion of the event, a raffle was held for several prizes, among them, a Dunkin’ Donuts gift card, a Hampton Winds gift card, and gift cards to Aardvark sports shop. All participants received a PSECU drawstring bag and racers received this year’s sprint t-shirt. 

The committee members who helped to put the event together were Donna White, Tiffany Whitehead, Gerri Bunnion O’Dowd, Laura Salley, Dev Albarelli, and Maria Dietrich. The volunteers who stepped in to help were Elba Carides, Morgan Flagg-Detwiller, Terrence Bomar, Cristie Gerhab, Carmen Sanabria, Sierra Johnson, Juliana Beck, Paige Parto, Sofia Quintero Higuita, Colin Homschear, Emma Humphreys, Ryan Krug, Sandra Ubby, Kailee Johnson, Treyvon Fitzpatrick, Sebastian Babon, Anaya White, Rebecca Bailey, Julia Craig, John Crawley and Matthew Haney. 

“The weather made things very difficult but the 5K committee and volunteers all stepped up and made the event possible. Thank you to all who stood in the rain and jumped in when needed. Everyone really exemplified ‘The Northampton Way,’” said Beatriz Messina, event coordinator and NCC counseling professor.