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The Muskingum University Development Office kicked off “Miles for Muskingum,” which is a virtual 5K set up to provide financial aid for students, at the beginning of June.

Kathryn McNeil, the Director of Annual and Leadership Giving, collaborated with Senior Director of Alumni Engagement and Annual Giving Jennifer Bronner to give alumni one final chance to make a gift to students near the end of the fiscal year.

“We were looking for some sort of end of the year campaign to give everybody every opportunity they could to make a gift,” said McNeil.

The idea of a virtual 5K coincidentally and conveniently lined up with the timing of National Running Day.

“We came up with the 5K idea, and we thought it would be really neat because it synced up really well with National Running Day being June 3,” said McNeil.

The Miles for Muskingum initiative has experienced a lot of success so far, accumulating numerous registrations.

“The very first day we launched it, on Wednesday [June 3], we got over 20 registrations, and now, we’re at 40,” said McNeil.

Registering for the event costs $25, and participants have until June 30 to complete their 5K.

“The 25 dollars will go 100 percent to benefit student financial aid and scholarships,” said McNeil.

Because the event is virtual, participants can complete their run on their own time.

“It’s virtual, so you can participate as soon as you sign up…at any time that is convenient for you,” said McNeil.

Everyone who signs up will receive Muskingum branded merchandise after they register.

“They’ll receive a Muskingum-branded aluminum water bottle. We’ve ordered with our 5K logo a branded decal sticker, so they can put that on their favorite water bottle, the water bottle they’re getting, or their hydro flask if they have one,” said McNeil.

Senior Director of Alumni Engagement and Annual Giving Jennifer Bronner and Director of Annual and Leadership Giving Katie McNeil visit WMCO’s Geyer Studio for #ADayToRemember March 18, 2019. Visit Muskingum.edu to make an gift to Muskingum University.

All participants will also receive a certificate to signify their participation and completion of the 5K.

“We have a certificate of completion we’re also going to send them just as a little token that they participated, and they can write in their race time,” said McNeil.

McNeil is encouraging all alumni and friends who participate in the event to share their contributions on social media and spread the word about the event.

“The biggest thing is we want everybody if they do have a social media account whether they’re on Instagram, Twitter, or Facebook, or all three is when they complete the 5K is to share with the hashtag #MilesforMuskingum. And that kind of acknowledges that they’ve completed it and that they’ve made an impact on a student,” said McNeil.

McNeil loves this virtual 5K because it gives people the chance to exercise even though there are still social distancing guidelines in place, and students can financially benefit from the proceeds.

“It’s really a dually serving thing. It gets people in a time where we are socially distanced, out and active, and they are doing something as part of the Muskingum community. And then, the other side of things is it benefits a student directly,” said McNeil.

The response from the Muskingum community has been very positive, and McNeil hopes this event can continue on a yearly basis.

“We’re actually really hoping to make this an annual thing. Especially with the way times are changing, we just don’t know what’s going to happen in the future,” said McNeil.

To register for Miles for Muskingum, visit the Miles for Muskingum page on Muskingum University’s website and follow the instructions.

Information about the event can also be found on the “Miles for Muskingum Virtual 5K” Facebook event page.