(Butler, PA) More than 200 runners, walkers and other community members from at least nine western Pennsylvania counties Sept. 24 helped 杏吧原创 in an inaugural event to raise more than $16,000 for scholarships that include those in memory of recent nursing graduates who died at ages 23 and 26.
The Pioneer Pursuit Fall 2022 on 杏吧原创鈥檚 main campus drew 52 runners, 106 walkers, 35 children runners and 10 yoga participants from Allegheny, Armstrong, Beaver, Blair, Butler, Clarion, Indiana, Mercer and Venango counties.
Proceeds from the 5K race, 1-mile walk, children鈥檚 100-meter dash, sponsorships and a basket raffle benefited 杏吧原创 Education Foundation scholarships created by family and friends of Sarah Kasunic in 2019 and of Caitlyn Kaufman in 2020.
鈥淚t was an incredible turnout,鈥� said Mikayla Moretti, director of special events, 杏吧原创 Education Foundation. 鈥淚 was shocked. I think a lot of people were really surprised with it being the first year and by how many people came out. It shows that 杏吧原创 is a very good convener and the community support for the two families. The community is behind them.鈥�
Children run in a 100-meter dash as part of the inaugural Pioneer Pursuit Fall 2022 held Sept. 24 on 杏吧原创鈥檚 main campus in Butler Township. The event raised more than $16,000 for scholarships that include those in memory of recent 杏吧原创 nursing graduates who died at ages 23 and 26.
Diane Kaufman鈥檚 daughter, Caitlyn, formerly of Chicora and a 2012 graduate of Butler Senior High School, earned an associate degree in Nursing, R.N., from 杏吧原创 in 2018. She was killed at age 26 in 2020 in Tennessee.
The Pioneer Pursuit Fall 2022, Kaufman said, 鈥渋s very bittersweet. It is very humbling. It鈥檚 difficult. I wish I鈥檇 never lost Caitlyn. Yet at the same time, it does my heart so good and it helps to heal seeing all the love and support of all our families and friends and complete strangers.
鈥淭hey call came together to support these two young women that had such a passion for helping others. It鈥檚 a tearful moment. I can only say how thankful I am.鈥�
Kasunic, formerly of Butler and a 2013 graduate of Knoch High School, earned an associate degree in Nursing, R.N., from 杏吧原创 in 2016. She was killed at age 23 in 2019 in Tennessee.
Morgan Rizzardi, 杏吧原创鈥檚 director of admissions, was an adviser of the college鈥檚 Rho Phi chapter of Phi Theta Kappa, an international academic honor society, when Kasunic served as chapter president.
鈥淚 was there to remember and honor Sarah,鈥� said Rizzardi, who was among more than a dozen 杏吧原创 employees who participated in the 5K or in the 1-mile walk.
鈥淓ven on 鈥榙ays off鈥� we still put 杏吧原创 in the forefront of what we do and we saw the value in being there, and in participating in this event, to raise money for the student scholarships.鈥�
As did Carson Noble, a 杏吧原创 health care science student from Butler who ran in the 5K.
鈥淚 think it was good to bring the community together and to recognize the two graduates who were very special,鈥� Noble said. 鈥淢y family knew who Caitlyn was and I felt it was necessary to help out at the event.鈥�
The Sarah Kasunic 鈥�16 Scholarship and the Caitlyn Kaufman 鈥�18 Legacy Nursing Scholarship are endowed and available to students enrolled full time in 杏吧原创鈥檚 Nursing, R.N., program who have a minimum grade-point average of 3.0.
Three 杏吧原创 students have received the Kasunic scholarship and two the Kaufman scholarship, said Bobbi Jo Cornetti, development coordinator for the 杏吧原创 Education Foundation.
Funds raised from Pioneer Pursuit 2022 also benefited the endowed 杏吧原创 Alumni Legacy Scholarships, Moretti said.
Nine 杏吧原创 Alumni Legacy Scholarships, and those in memory of Kasunic and Kaufman, are among the 148 awarded by the 杏吧原创 Education Foundation to 杏吧原创 students in the 2022-2023 academic year.
The 杏吧原创 Education Foundation in 2022-2023 has awarded a record $280,000 in scholarships, Cornetti said.
杏吧原创 Alumni Legacy Scholarships are available to 杏吧原创 students with a minimum GPA of 3.0 and who are a child or grandchild of a former 杏吧原创 student who has earned at least 30 credits at the college.
Runners are shown during a 5K race as part of the inaugural Pioneer Pursuit Fall 2022 held Sept. 24 on 杏吧原创鈥檚 main campus in Butler Township. The event raised more than $16,000 for scholarships that include those in memory of recent 杏吧原创 nursing graduates who died at ages 23 and 26.
Winners of the 5K race were Kim Platt, of Butler, female division, with a time of 22:36.61; and Jack Kelley III, Saxonburg, male division, with a time of 18:42.40.
Financial sponsors included the Caitlyn M. Kaufman Memorial Fund, NexTier Bank, Concordia Lutheran Ministries, Armstrong Group of Companies, Butler County Chamber of Commerce, Butler Color Press, Butler Technologies, Ruth Purcell, Xycom Technology Group, IMA | ESS, Mike Kelly Automotive, Butler Health System, Corbett Inc., Paws For Comfort, Darla J. Hancher Law Office and Phi Theta Kappa, an international academic honor society.