Runners decked out in costumes ranging from a minion to a Wookiee raced in the Bision Boogie 5k and Fun Run to raise money for the IDEAL scholarship fund on Saturday morning.
Campus Rec, the IDEAL Program and SGA partnered together to host the event. Runners and volunteers alike came out to support the IDEAL program, which provides education and career development opportunities for students with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
“This is the first year we’ve hosted this event, so hopefully this will continue to happen every year after this one,” senior volunteer Madison McClure said. “There was a lot more people than we thought there was going to be.”
McClure assisted runners to check in before the race and directed them after the race was completed to the refreshments area behind the Bell Tower.
The race began and ended at the Allen Arena Circle, and the runners were required to pass through the Lipscomb themed balloon arch to complete the race.
Sophomore Amy Carpio said she was very excited about running in the 5k, and she even brought her brother along to join in the fun with her.
“I love to run, and I just thought this was a great fundraiser I could take part in,” Carpio said. “My parents even came to cheer my brother and me on. Even though I was not feeling great this morning, I still came and made great time.”
Carpio finished with a time of 25:50.
Zeke Cutts, Graduate Assistance with Campus Rec, took responsibility of decorations and tech while he sat at the audio booth.
“It was kind of hectic in the beginning, but that’s just normal,” Cutts said. “It turned out way more successful then we thought it was going to be. I’ve done a couple of 5k’s, and normally they have 20-30 people sign up, but we had 78 sign up today, so that was pretty sweet.”
Students from the nursing department also volunteered at the First-Aid booth for any emergency at the event.
Emmie Schmidt, a Lipscomb IDEAL alumna, volunteered and came to support her boyfriend who was running in the race.
“We have prizes for the first male and female runners who complete the race with the fastest time, and a prize will also go out to the person with the best costume,” Schmidt said.
The award ceremony was held at the Bell Tower after everyone completed the race.
The first male to cross the finish line was Enrique Serna, with a time of 16:38. Courtney Nowell was the first female to finish, with a time of 23:53.
The IDEAL Program plans to make the Bison Boogie 5k an annual event.