Fountain 5-k Run To Support Sga Endowed Student Scholarship

Mar. 23, 2011

Michelle Eubanks, UNA, at media@una.edu, 256.765.4392 or 256.606.2033

FLORENCE, Ala. - The Student Government Association at the University of North Alabama will host a Fountain 5-K run April 9 at 9 a.m., with proceeds from the event going toward SGA's student-led endowed scholarship initiative. SGA is the first student-organized group in UNA's history that has created an endowed scholarship fund for future students. SGA President Cory Hamilton said the group hopes to raise $25,000 toward the fund within the next five years. The Fountain 5-K will be SGA's first major fundraising event for the scholarship, which Hamilton hopes will bring in at least 200 participants. "Come out and support SGA and UNA's future students in giving back to the university," Hamilton said. "You don't have to be a 5-K runner. Anything will help." The 5-K run, which will begin and end at the Laura Harrison Fountain on UNA's campus, will include students, faculty, staff and community members. Participants who are interested in the 5-K run can pre-register for $12 before April 2 or register beginning at 8:15 a.m. the day of the event for $15. In addition, students will come together to promote school spirit April 4-9 with a variety of free giveaways, games, activities and events during University Program Council's third annual Purple Pride Week. To inspire camaraderie among UNA students from all backgrounds, extracurricular activities and academic majors, UPC will host weeklong events designed to bring students together. Megan Butz, UPC spirit chair, said the events are tailored to attract all staff, faculty and students at UNA. "This week is designed to promote school spirit and not just for athletics," Butz said. "We want to get students to come out and enjoy being at UNA." UPC will give out free cupcakes to all UNA students, faculty and staff April 4 in the Guillot University Center. UPC will also pass out free tie-dye T-shirts April 5 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the GUC. They are hoping to bring Singing River Records artist Archie Hubbard to the GUC that day for a special performance. A tailgating ceremony will take place April 6 at the UNA band practice field, where UPC will give out free hot dogs and encourage students to participate in games. Higher Education Day takes place in Montgomery April 7, which UPC will encourage students to take part in on behalf of the university. They will also have a meet-and-greet in the GUC from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. where students can interact with Miss UNA and the lion mascots. UPC will pass out free T-shirts April 8 in the GUC from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and also host a field day at Turf Field from 6:30 to 8 p.m. across the street from Rivers and Rice halls. For more information about Purple Pride Week, contact the Office of Student Engagement at 256-765-4248. To pre-register for the Fountain 5-K run, visit www.una.edu/sga/events/5k.

About The University of North Alabama

The University of North Alabama is an accredited, comprehensive regional state university offering undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral degree programs through the colleges of Arts, Sciences, and Engineering; the Sanders College of Business and Technology; Education and Human Sciences; and the Anderson College of Nursing and Health Professions. Occupying a 130-acre campus in a residential section of Florence, Alabama, UNA is located within a four-city area that also includes Muscle Shoals, Sheffield, and Tuscumbia. UNA Athletics, a renowned collegiate athletics program with seven (7) Division II National Championships, is now a proud member of NCAA Division I as part of the Atlantic Sun and United Athletic conferences. The University of North Alabama is an equal opportunity institution and does not discriminate in the admission policy on the basis of race, color, sex, religion, disability, age, or national origin. For more: una.edu and una.edu/unaworks/.