For senior Bri Vollmer, volunteering at the Keep Me Maryland 5K was more than just her duty as the Student Government Assocation’s education college representative.
Vollmer’s parents — neither of whom graduated college — have been feeling the financial burden now more than ever with an older son who graduated college in 2012 and a younger one just starting his freshman year.
Receiving a Keep Me Maryland grant meant Vollmer, who has held a job since she was 14, can spend her remaining time at this university thinking about academics instead of working 20 to 30 hours a week to make ends meet.
“Because of Keep Me Maryland, I can focus on looking for a job and keeping up my academic record, which is what I’m at college to do,” said Vollmer, an education and English major. “It was great seeing everyone come out to the 5K today in support of students staying in school.”
Keep Me Maryland, an emergency financial aid fund founded in 2008, has helped nearly 450 students who were in danger of not being able to return to school because of financial hardship.
At the inaugural race yesterday, 1,100 people ran in support of economically disadvantaged university students.
The 5K raised more than $10,000, said Rebecca Cegledy, race organizer and assistant director of member services for Campus Recreation Services were in danger of not being able to return to school because of financial hardship.
At the inaugural race yesterday, 1,100 people ran in support of economically disadvantaged university students.
The 5K raised more than $10,000, said Rebecca Cegledy, race organizer and assistant director of member services for Campus Recreation Services. That money could provide a year of textbooks for 10 students, a year of health services for six students or more than a year of in-state tuition for one student.
“The fact that we raised over $10,000 is awesome, especially since students were the main contributors,” Cegledy said. “This is a wonderful organization that directly helps kids on campus.”
The Division of Student Affairs, the Division of Student Relations, the Student Government Association and Under Armour teamed up to sponsor the race. Each participant received a “KMM 5K” T-shirt donated by Under Armour founder and university alumnus, Kevin Plank.
“You pay $10 to register for the 5K and get a $25 Under Armour T-shirt, so it’s almost like you’re making money off of this,” said Patrick Ronk, SGA students group director.
But the race was about much more than just a T-shirt, said Ronk, a sophomore government and politics major. He said he is lucky to be in a comfortable financial situation, but he has friends who have been personally helped by the fund.
“I’m originally from New Jersey, so I know lots of people who lost their homes in Hurricane Sandy, and that’s exactly what this fund is for: to help students who have been affected by the recession, or natural disasters like Sandy, stay in school,” Ronk said. “This isn’t some random charity; it’s a really important cause that affects people at this school.”
Brian Haedrich, a freshman enrolled in letters and sciences, had not heard of the fund before the 5K. He said he originally signed up because he thought it would be good exercise and the Under Armour T-shirt looked cool.
“Now that I know what Keep Me Maryland is, I’m even happier I signed up,” Haedrich said. “It could potentially help me or my friends if something ever happened in the future.”
In addition to raising funds, the 5K aimed to raise awareness of financial issues, said Sarah Bauder, financial aid assistant vice president.
“As a student, it’s hard to self-identify and say ‘I have a financial problem,’” Bauder said. “The 5K was about showing students that they’re not alone. There are people here to help them if they need it.”
Of the 1,100 runners, 635 were students. The rest were community members, university alumni or university staff. Donor Brian Darmody, a 1977 alumnus and the university’s research and economic development associate vice president, said he was proud to partake in an event through which students learned the value of charity.
“It’s great that students are exposed to philanthropy early on,” said Darmody, who is also the university’s corporate relations director. “Hopefully, as they grow up, they’ll keep up the tradition of giving back.”
University alumnus Harvey Sanders, a member of the College Park Foundation Board of Trustees and an Under Armour director, said this was just the first of many 5Ks for the fund.
“We’re going to be even bigger next year,” Sanders said. “It’s a great cause to help people who can no longer afford to stay in school. We had 1,100 runners this year, and next year we’re going to double it.”