11th Annual Spartan Sprint Helps Students in Need

The 11th Annual Spartan Sprint 5K Run/Walk enjoyed another year of helping students in need. Held on September 27 at Northampton Community College’s (NCC) Bethlehem campus, this year’s event raised over $4,775 for Spartan Aid. 

The Spartan Aid account assists students with financial needs by providing aid such as grocery store gift cards, gas gift cards, and bus passes. Account funds also may be used to help purchase textbooks or other class materials such as uniforms or even to cover expenses like utility bill payments or car repairs.  

“Some students run out of financial aid or have needs that are not covered by financial aid,” explains Beatriz Messina, associate professor of counseling and chair of the Spartan Sprint organizing committee. “The idea of this fund is to help students overcome these financial obstacles.”   

To date, the Spartan Sprint has raised nearly $33,000 to help students cover expenses that might otherwise stop them from completing their education.    

The Spartan Sprint is truly a community endeavor. This year, 113 participants lined up to run or walk the course, and 33 volunteers helped make the day a success. The race also partnered with NCC’s first-ever Family Day, which featured fun for the whole family in the Spartan Activity Zone, a Creative Corner sponsored by Reibman Hall Children’s Center, free salsa dancing lessons sponsored by Community Education, screenings of Inside Out 2 and Lilo & Stitch, a baseball double header, and guided tours of the East 40 Community Garden. 

Back at the finish line, Kathy Kapsos was the top female finisher with a time of 24:44 and Nate Kirkland took the top male prize with a time of 17:14. View complete results here. 

Raffle prizes included gift certificates to NCC’s student-run restaurant, the Hampton Winds, Aardvark Sports Shop, admission tickets to the Crayola Factory, and various NCC gear. 

The NCC baseball team assisted with race set-up on Friday. NCC Public Safety officers also assisted on race day, while the Bethlehem Township Volunteer Fire Company provided traffic control.  

This year’s race sponsors included St. Luke’s, PSECU, The Farm Bakery & Events, PRF Coaching, and Inner Strength Fitness Studio. In-kind sponsors included NCC Barnes & Noble Bookstore, NCC Hampton Winds & Culinary Arts Department, The Crayola Factory, NCC’s Band of Brothers, and NCC’s Sports Management Department.  

In addition to Messina, the organizing committee included Devereux Albarelli, associate professor of online learning and information services librarian; Geraldine Bunnion O’Dowd, instructional coordinator for the Science Resource Center; Donna Danner, PSECU community relations manager; Laura Salley, counselor; Jacalyn Speicher, adjunct instructor of biological science; and Tiffany Whitehead, associate academic advisor.