5K Raises More than $5K for Graduate Student Conference Travel

The event celebrated the contributions of graduate students to the Lehigh community.

Stephanie Veto

Kari Moffat '17 '19G

May 07, 2019

A mid-April 5K race on Lehigh’s Mountaintop campus served as a celebration of the important contributions of graduate students to the university. The race raised more than $5,000 to supplement the travel grant funding provided by Lehigh’s Graduate Student Senate and will allow more graduate students to attend and present their research at conferences in the U.S. and internationally.

In addition to the 5K, which welcomed runners, walkers and spectators, a graduate student research showcase in Iacocca Hall welcomed attendees to view the posters of graduate students from across the university who have received travel grants and presented their work at conferences.

Runners in 5K race on Lehigh University's Mountaintop Campus

The 5K took place on Lehigh's scenic Mountaintop Campus.

“The graduate students at Lehigh are so grateful for the support of everyone who was involved with the race,” said Mike Mfarej, a fourth-year doctoral student in biochemistry and event co-organizer. “The local community represented over 80 percent of our registrants, and we appreciate that they shared their time with us in celebrating the great work that our grads do every day at Lehigh. We also thank all members of the Lehigh student body for their support, as this event has united both undergrads and grads at Lehigh to grow the Lehigh brand in a way that would not be possible without our joined efforts.”

The event’s profit of about $5,300 has already been put to use, said Caitlyn Hyland, a fourth-year doctoral student in cell and molecular biology and co-organizer of the event. “With the money that we raised, we are able to reopen the graduate student travel grant fund for this year and send at least 30 more students to conferences,” she said. “The race was a wonderful opportunity to showcase graduate student research with the community, for which we are really grateful, and we intend to give back to the community by sharing our research with the world.”

The event was also an opportunity for the wider community to show support for Lehigh graduate students.

Lehigh Provost Pat Farrell at Lehigh Graduate Student 5K

Lehigh Provost Pat Farrell participated in the race.

“Graduate students are an important part of the Lehigh community,” said Provost Pat Farrell, who ran the 5K. “Their work is critical to the university’s continued growth and success. This event served as a meaningful celebration of graduate students' vital contributions to Lehigh’s rich academic environment, which will become even more essential as Lehigh evolves in the years to come."

Said Mfarej: “We thank the Lehigh administrators who helped us reach our fundraising goals. We believe that the success of this race, and its backing by Lehigh’s leadership, is a testament to how much our grad students are valued within the university and... how Lehigh will make changes to recognize our contributions more moving forward.”