Check out event photo album!
NEWS Walnut Valley Unified School District
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 880 S. Lemon Avenue
March 12, 2012 Walnut, CA 91789
Contact:
Kelli Gile, Office of Community Resources
(909) 595-1261 ext. 31204
Foundation Hosts 3rd Annual 1K and 5K Fundraiser
Thank you for making the WVUSD Weekend of Family Fun, Food, and Fitness a huge success!
WALNUT, CA —The Walnut Valley Educational Foundation hosted a two-day FUN-raising event to benefit Walnut Valley Schools on March 3 and 4.
Over 2,200 participants including students, parents, staff retirees, friends, district and government officials, and volunteers– came together to show the spirit of our community.
The pre-race showcase held Saturday, March 3 from 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. at Walnut High School featured a Wheel Food Fest, student showcase, race bib pick up and registration. The showcase featured a variety of drama, vocal, dance and musical performances by talented Walnut Valley students.
A 12-foot banner displayed at the main entrance to the event, created by Suzanne teachers Janice Crabb and Lisa Van Dine, featured the names of teachers and staff honored with special event donations.
“This is very exciting seeing all the different high school bands, middle school bands, the kids perform – it’s just amazing! We’re very grateful to the Walnut Valley Educational Foundation for supporting this event,” said pre-race coordinator Reuben Jones, Walnut High School Instructional Dean.
Nearly a dozen top gourmet food trucks rolled up to the WHS basketball courts offering fresh and tasty cuisine at the 2nd WVEF Wheel Food Fest. Foodies feasted on Kobe Beef sliders (Walnut’s Slummin’ Gourmet), Carnitas Fries (Food Network favorite The Lime Truck), slushy frozen lemonade (Del’s Lemonade), and more. Yum!
It was a delicious way to support our schools! Proceeds included the $2 admission donation and all of the sidewalk chefs donated a portion of sales from the event.
Athletes of all ages gathered for the 3rd annual 1K Kid’s Fun Run and 5K Run/Walk held on Sunday March 4 at Diamond Bar High School. Participants ranged from elite adult and student runners to walkers, and parents pushing strollers!
Evergreen 5th grader Paula Williams was excited as she was getting ready to run her first 5K race with her father, Ted.
“I’m going to go back and forth – run and walk”, she said.
Her dad joked that his strategy was to “walk-a lot a-bit!” as he laced up is tennis shoes.
“I think it’s fabulous that the community comes together for this event –it’s so neat!” said Chaparral Language Arts teacher Parchi Gammell
“My daughter goes to South Pointe Middle School, so I'm running for her school,” said Talia Adams, also a DBHS graduate.
Many of the schools challenged students and parents with participation and donation goals.
Chaparral Middle School Principal Ron Thibideaux gave his students a different kind of challenge.
We want to beat Mr. Thibideaux, said a group of students pinning on their racing bibs.
“If you beat him, you get to throw a pie at his face!” said Lauren Unger.
The 1K Fun Run with over 200 students began at 8 a.m. on the upper baseball field. The crowd cheered as the youngsters entered the stadium racing all the way to the finish line. Every participant received a shiny medal.
The national anthem was performed by Chaparral 8th grader Justa Huang. Race day coordinator Gabriel Aguilar, a Diamond Bar High School Instructional Dean introduced district, foundation, and community officials who wished all the 5K participants a successful race.
WVEF President Gayle Pacheco thanked everyone for supporting the event.
“All the money raised here goes back to our schools,” she said.
Then at 8:30 a.m. it was time to race and over 2,000 eager 5K participants flocked to the starting line.
The event was divided into four starting groups: competitive runners, student athletes, parents with children and strollers, and the final “snail” group who walked the course at their own pace.
Participants passed through several stations on the course for water breaks. And at the end of the race, WVUSD Food Services Department provided a light breakfast.
Elite runner Diamond Bar High senior James McCreary won 1st Place in the 5K event for the third year in a row with a 16:57 finish.
“I love this school! The crowd and everyone here is so supportive” he said.
Walnut High junior track and cross-country athlete Daniel Lee took the 3rd Place Award in the 5K race .
“It feels great! I’m proud to represent my school,” he said about his first year as a top finisher.
Collegewood Elementary 5th grade twins Emma and Chloe Arriaga took the top two awards in the 5K Female Overall Division.
“It feels exciting,” said Emma, the 1st Place winner. The 10-year old track club runners also won 1st and 2nd Place awards in the USATF National Junior Olympics Cross Country Championships held in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.
Congratulations to our top finishers!
1K Fun Run Top Finishers:
Boys: 1st Place - Scott Mesdjian, 2nd Place - Brandon Rodriguez, 3rd Place - Elijah McGee. Girls: 1st Place - Sarah Abo, 2nd Place - Sarah Mesdjian, 3rd Place - Elizabeth Butler.
5K Top Finishers:
Males: 1st Place - James McCreary, 2nd Place - Jeff Kerwin, 3rd Place - Daniel Lee. 1st Place Non-WVUSD Adult - Daniel Rosales, 1st Place WVUSD Staff - Jerry Knox. Females: 1st Place - Emma Arriaga, 2nd Place - Chloe Arriaga, 3rd Place - Ariana Infante. 1st Place Non-WVUSD Student - Taylor Butler, 1st Place Non- WVUSD Adult - Denise Ripley.
Elementary and middle schools hosted a coloring contest of the event logo created by Suzanne Middle School art teacher Jonathan St. Amant.
Congratulations to our Coloring Contest winners!
Kindergarten - Samuel Lee , Evergreen Elementary
1st Grade - Nathan Houng , Evergreen Elementary
2nd Grade - David Vazquez , Walnut Elementary
3rd Grade - Emily Imamura , Walnut Elementary
4th Grade - Sydney Tsai , Evergreen Elementary
5th Grade - Nastassia Marantz , Evergreen Elementary
6th Grade - Tiffany Ou , Chaparral Middle School
7th Grade - Emma Tham , Chaparral Middle School
8th Grade - Morgan Valdez , Suzanne Middle School
The 5K Fun-Run Committee for 2012 included: Gabriel Aguilar, Brandi Chapman, Reuben Jones, Don Trimmer, and Neal Desai. This event wouldn’t have been possible without over 200 dedicated volunteers, including Walnut Valley staff, parents, and students from Diamond Bar and Walnut High School service clubs.
Walnut Valley Schools would like to thank the following organizations and families for serving as 2012 Event Sponsors: Walnut Valley Educational Foundation, The City of Diamond Bar, The City of Walnut, Henry Woo Architects Inc., Novus Construction, Jim Larson Inspections, Roule Construction, WVUSD Board of Trustees, Law Offices of Bob and Gayle Pacheco, Alkaline Pi Water, Massage Envy, Premier Academy of Walnut, MC Screen Printing, Love Nicole Stichery, RoadID, Snail's Pace, Sun-Rype, ESPN Zone, Chuck E. Cheese, Fresh & Easy, Chili's, Vespa, Yellow Bus Café, US Foods / Joseph Webb, Fairway Chiropractic Group, Nimesh N. Ladhawala, D.C., Michael and Elizabeth Fan & Family, THe Hildebrand Family, Joyce Tsa, Catherine Chang, SCS Americas LLC.
Diamond Bar High photography teacher Bill Foley and his students have made event photos available to download for free! Please check out the link at http://billfoley.zenfolio.com/p185616374.
On behalf of the Walnut Valley Unified School District and the Walnut Valley Educational Foundation, thank you to ALL of the participants, event volunteers, and sponsors for supporting this event!
Shown:
Racers flew to the finish line during the 1K Fun Run event.
Family Fun! 1K participants were all smiles as they entered the DBHS stadium.
At the starting line, 5K participants were ready to race!
1K Fun Run top finishers took the podium to receive their awards. Left to right: Elizabeth Butler – 3rd grade Quail Summit, Elijah McGee – 4th grade Collegewood, Scott Mesdjian – 5th grade Grace Miller, Sarah Abdo – 5th grade Castle Rock, Sarah Mesdjian – 2nd grade Grace Miller, Brandon Rodriguez – 4th grade Quail Summit.
Top 5K Female finishers shown left to right were Ariana Infante,Emma Arriaga, and Chloe Arriaga,
Top 5K Male finishers shown left to right : Daniel Lee- 3rd Place, Walnut High junior, James McCreary – 1st Place, Diamond Bar High senior, and Jeff Kerwin - 2nd Place, Glendora High freshman.