University Park, Pa. -- Penn State's College of Education’s 4th annual Cycle-Thon to benefit the Summer College Opportunity Program in Education (SCOPE) will be held on Sunday, April 26. This year participants can participate in the bike ride or the first ever 5K run-walk. A special guest, the Nittany Lion, will be making an appearance and a community picnic will conclude the event.
Starting at Sunset Park, in State College, riders, walkers, and runners will be utilizing bike paths throughout Centre County. Cyclists can choose between a 14- or 7-mile path. The event provides a fun and healthy opportunity for community members to become involved in making college an option for all high school students.
“The addition of a 5K gives students and community members who don’t have a bike or would just prefer to walk or run the opportunity to become involved, “said Brent Hurley, alumni relations director.
SCOPE is a four-week summer program that aims to increase access to the field of education for all high-achieving high school students who are interested in the education profession. Students have the opportunity to attend a rigorous summer residential program at the University Park campus that provides academic enrichment and college preparation opportunities. The program is organized to address areas that include academic and study-skills, admission criteria/application processes, financial aid, leadership, community service, cultural-affirmation, and career and personal development through a nurturing environment.
“The Cycle-Thon gets better and better each year,” said Dean David Monk. “I hope you will join us this year and help support future educators who might otherwise never enter the field. I can promise that you’ll have fun and be proud to be part of such a great College.”
Event details:
-- Date: April 26
-- Time: 10:00 a.m-2:00 p.m.
-- Start/End and picnic location: Sunset Park, 850 McKee Street, near the Ferguson Avenue intersection Helmets required for riders; participants are encouraged to obey all traffic signals and signs as they will be utilizing several streets and crossing at some intersection
Registration fee for riders, runners and walkers:
-- $25.00 adult/non-student
-- $20.00 college students
-- $15.00 K-12 students
-- Free for children 5 and under
Registration includes: Ride or 5K, t-shirt, kick-off refreshments, program activities
Picnic lunch: A boxed lunch by Honey Baked Ham is available by pre-purchase for $10 per person. (The purchase of the boxed lunch is not necessary to attend the picnic. Picnickers have the option to bring their own food.)
To register for the ride, 5K, or to pre-purchase a picnic lunch, visit: http://www.ed.psu.edu/Cyclethon2009/
Folks not participating in the ride or 5K can still join in the picnic and free activities at Sunset Park such as face-painting, bike demonstrations, and games. There will also be awards and prizes given away.
For those not able to participate, but who want to contribute to SCOPE, there are a few options:
-- Sponsor a student to ride, run, or walk.
-- Become a t-shirt sponsor for a minimum gift of $25, and have your name or your business name printed on the back of the official Cycle-Thon t-shirts. E-mail COEAlumni@psu.edu for more information.
-- Make a contribution online at http://www.giveto.psu.edu and type XCEMP in the additional information line, or contact Ellie Dietrich at edl2@psu.edu.
For further details, contact Brent Hurley, alumni relations director, bwh120@psu.edu; or Samantha Culovic, external relations assistant, smc33@psu.edu or (814) 863-2146.