Run for the Arts 5K and 1-Mile Walk planned

The University of Virginia’s College at Wise (UVA Wise) has announced its first on-campus Run for the Arts 5K and 1-Mile Walk on Saturday, Sept. 18 at 9 a.m. Hosted by the College’s Department of Visual and Performing Arts, the event celebrates and supports the department’s curriculum and programming. The 5K run and the 1-mile walk courses are separate and showcase UVA Wise’s scenic campus.
The registration fee for participation in the 5K is $25 per person ($20 for pre-registration or with the presentation of a student ID), and the registration fee to participate in the 1-mile walk is $12. Those who pre-register by Sept. 8 are guaranteed a free t-shirt.

“I hope that this event will generate awareness for the arts as well as support for our arts students and programs,” says Jessica Necessary, an arts curriculum assistant and office manager for the department, who had the idea for the event. “Art, music and theater not only nurture our souls and provide entertainment, but also provoke innovation, creativity and empathy among many other benefits, which are necessities for society’s survival and are just a few of the skills provided by a good liberal arts education that are highly sought out by major employers everywhere.”

Participants that pre-register will receive a free t-shirt, and awards will be presented to the overall male and overall female 5K winners, as well as to the top-three finishers in each 5K age division. All ages are encouraged to participate, and water stations will be set up at the mid-point and finish line.

Ben Mays, department chair and member of the theater faculty, will emcee the event. Mays will provide an array of music for participants and those cheering on friends and family in addition to giving course updates and details of upcoming visual and performing arts events.

The 5K and 1-mile walk check-in and final registration will begin at 7:45 a.m. outside of the Gilliam Center for the Arts, located next to the lake. Both events will begin at 9 a.m.

For more information or to register for the event, visit www.uvawise.edu/arts-5k or contact Jessica Necessary at (276) 328-0256 or jjn5y@uvawise.edu.

About The University of Virginia’s College at Wise

A member of the prestigious Council for Public Liberal Arts Colleges, the University of Virginia’s College at Wise is an inspiring place to teach, lead, learn and call home. With a student faculty ratio of 13:1 and approximately 2,000 students, UVA Wise is committed to excellence in teaching, personalized attention, and individual growth, as well as to the advancement of our region through economic development.

The only division of the University of Virginia located outside of Charlottesville, UVA Wise has a beautiful campus that is nestled in the Appalachian Mountains of Southwest Virginia. Here, students learn from faculty who are encouraged to engage in scholarship and service that complements their teaching, and our environment is ideal for the task. In addition to Appalachian arts and culture, on-campus wetlands and impressive geography, and a region full of opportunities for study and outdoor adventure, there are many opportunities to build partnerships with organizations, agencies, and businesses in the area and beyond. Professional staff and a dedicated senior leadership team are driven by the vital mission of ensuring access and affordability to this robust, quality higher education.

The College’s student population is largely first-generation, often rural students, for whom we offer access and affordability along with challenging academic work in the liberal arts tradition. The result is well-rounded graduates who earn fulfilling work at leading organizations and pursue graduate study at prestigious universities, as evidenced recently when U.S. News & World Report ranked UVA Wise as sixth in the nation for promoting social mobility.

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