The H-K Board of Education Helps Make the 18th Annual Pumpkin Run/Walk a Huge Success

As part of an initiative to celebrate the district's accomplishments within the community, Superintendent Howard Thiery, along with the rest of the board, took time to recognize RSD 17's contribution to the 18th Annual Pumpkin Run/Walk Challenge at Tuesday night's Board of Education meeting. 

"I've never been more proud to be part of a community, school or group of people," said Thiery.

This year, Thiery challenged his school district to participate in the annual event by offering the district team that raised the most money a trophy. It was not just any trophy, he said, but the "most ostentatious shiny trophy" that would reside at the winning team's school for the remainder of the year.

Thiery also deemed that the winning team could "talk smack" to him for the rest of the year. The catch? The winning team had to supersede the amount of money raised by the superintendent's own team.

Twenty-two teams from the district signed up to participate, making up 110 of the over 400 volunteer that took part in the 5K road race. Each district team consisted of 5 members. 

The district teams raised a grand total of $15, 238.48. The initial $9,988.48 was raised by individual team members. A total of $2750 was added in event registration fees. Finally, an additional $2500 sponsor donation was granted by the district's transportation service company, STA (Student Transportation of America) to make the final total.

At the meeting, the superintendent conceded his third-place "loss" to the first-place team, the H-K Middle School Marauders, who raised a total of $1,733.78. The Burr Elementary School Road Runners cinched second-place by raising $1,326. Marauder team members Neil English and Cathryn Wendt accepted the trophy on the team's behalf.

Thiery joked that he would have to add a new category to next year's challenge, "Best Dressed," based on the costumes the Burr team wore for the event.

"We're happy to be bringing the first annual challenge trophy to the middle school," said English, "we are just so happy to be a part of the event."

H-K Youth and Family Services Executive Director, Cheryl Chandler, and Board of Directors Chair, Mark Torello, turned the tables on Thiery and presented a plaque to the superintendent and his district for the district's contribution to the event (see video).

Money raised from the annual run/walk goes to benefit H-K Youth and Family Services.