Students gain leadership skills with work on color run

QUINCY -- Quincy High School juniors Valerie Howerton, Bradley Eston, Jordan Brown and their classmates have been making the rounds of elementary schools and local businesses.

They're generating more interest in participating and financially supporting this year's "Dream Big in Color" 5K Fun Run/Walk spearheaded by the QPS Foundation and the QHS Leadership Class.

"Basically we're getting sponsors and making money. We're going to help organize the run as well, help make promotional videos," Howerton said. "It's a great way to support your schools."

The fifth annual event takes place at 8:30 a.m. Saturday, April 28 with a route that begins at QHS at 3322 Maine, follows Maine to 16th Street and returns to QHS for a musical and colorful after-party. Along the way, sponsors and volunteers throw many colors of food-grade powder on the runners and each other.

QPS Foundation Executive Director Kent Embree said the fun run/walk is one of two events each year to benefit the foundation and classroom teachers.

"This is one of the events that helps us support teacher needs in the classroom as well as very specific needs that a school might approach us with," Embree said.

The students hope to raise more than $15,000 in sponsorships this year, and "we are on track to meet or exceed that goal," leadership class teacher Ben Dombroski said.

Eston said the event not only helps the foundation, but it helps bring the community together.

"It's giving them a better chance to get together, do the same thing and get exercise," he said.

Embree said organizers hope to see even more QPS families participate this year.

"We've cut the cost in half for youth and students to participate," Embree said. "We just want this to be something that families within the public schools especially feel comfortable bringing the entire family out."

Leadership class students learn about working within a group, organizing and delegating, public speaking and planning a community outreach event.

"More goes into it than what it seems," Brown said.

"We're learning a lot of leadership skills, learning good things for the future," Howerton said. "It kind of helps us in the future because it makes us more comfortable talking to companies."

Dombroski hopes students start to realize the impact they can have on their community by getting involved.

"By pushing them to work through the fear of rejection, whether it be with potential sponsors or participants, my students will hopefully gain confidence as well as an understanding of how to run a large event," he said.

REGISTRATION

Registration is available now for the fifth annual Dream Big in Color 5K Fun Run/Walk.

Registration may be completed online at qpsfoundation.org, and a downloadable paper form available on the website can be returned to the QPS Foundation office.

Early registration fees are $20 for adults ages 19 and up, $10 for students 18 and under and free for children under 4. Early registrants are guaranteed a T-shirt and color powder. After Friday, April 13, fees will go up to $30 per adult and $20 per students.