Event will support education-abroad scholarships at Kent State

Kent State University will host the inaugural “Run the
World 5K,” a run/walk international-themed race, on
Sept. 12 on the Lefton Esplanade at the Kent Campus.
Registration proceeds will support education-abroad
scholarships at Kent State.

Kent State University will host the inaugural “Run the World 5K,” a run/walk international-themed race, on Saturday, Sept. 12, on the Lefton Esplanade at the Kent Campus. Registration proceeds will support education-abroad scholarships so that Kent State students can better afford the experience of short- or long-term education-abroad programs.

Registration is open to the public, and participants may run, jog or walk through the beautiful, tree-lined course along the scenic Lefton Esplanade. Strollers are welcome. Packet pickup begins at 7 a.m., and the race begins at 8:30 a.m. The start and finish line will be located at Risman Plaza (in between the Kent Student Center and University Library).

"This event appeals to both runners and non-runners alike and offers Kent State and the city of Kent a chance to come together and celebrate our international community and encourage our young scholars to get out there and see the world beyond Northeast Ohio," says Ed Butch, race director and senior academic advisor in Kent State’s College of Arts and Sciences.

Participants can register online at www.kent.edu/RunTheWorld. Registration is $25 and includes a tech T-shirt and a finisher’s medal. All participants are invited to the Kent International Festival in downtown Kent as a post-race party. The festival is hosted by Main Street Kent and will have international food for purchase and free entertainment. Race-day registration is available starting at 7 a.m., payable by cash or check. Awards will be given to the top female and male runners, as well as age group categories.

“Studying abroad is not just about visiting another country; it’s about expanding our students’ ability to think critically about themselves and the world in which they live so that they can become better global citizens,” says James Blank, Ph.D., dean of Kent State’s College of Arts and Sciences. “Supporting this race means supporting our students to enable them to have the most rewarding and potentially life-changing experiences of their academic career at Kent.”

For questions about the race or sponsorship opportunities, visit www.kent.edu/runtheworld or contact Butch at 330-672-8976 or ebutch@kent.edu.