A large gathering of Cal State Monterey Bay (CSUMB) students, faculty and their families participated in Monte’s 5K and 1K, the school’s second annual event held Saturday during Reunion And Family Traditions (RAFT) weekend. Cal State Monterey Bay’s RAFT weekend allows students and their families to explore events across the campus community.
Current and alumni members of the CSUMB community raced through campus to support donations to the school’s scholarship fund. The 5K and 1K race events allowed runners to bond together and feel encouraged by the school spirit.
Participants lined up at 9 a.m. on Saturday to check in, receive their race shirts and stretch with their fellow Otters before the start of the race. Runners had a choice between competing in the timed 5K run or the untimed 1K run, both of which had routes that winded through campus. After crossing the finish line for each event, runners were greeted by CSUMB’s mascot, Monte Rey. They were then awarded a medal for participation by university President Vanya Quinones and Provost Andrew Lawson. Runners then got to take celebration photos at one of CSUMB’s photo backdrop spots.
Many volunteers and staff at the event have noticed its impact on students, families and alumni.
“I was at the first one last year, and I think it’s really important for families to be able to celebrate with each other,” said Ry Dart, a fourth year humanities and communications major. “When you go to CSUMB, our idea is that we’re a raft. Being able to see people you haven’t seen in years and being able to introduce your children to these people you went to college with, it builds a stronger sense of community.”
Dart, who worked with the Otter Student Union to showcase the event, appreciates seeing the connections runners create from Monte’s 5k. “I see [those connections] as really prominent in this event. This year, I’m seeing more people I know. It’s a nice sense of community.”
According to Dart, racers will be immersed in a bonding experience while walking or running the 5k or the 1k together. “I think they do a good job, and I think it’s also helping them reinforce being able to exercise and how important it is to exercise with other people,” Dart said.
Dart hopes the event’s growing popularity and the school’s growing student population will help to get the event relocated to an off-campus location in the future. Dart said, “I think this event has a lot of potential, and it’s only going to get a lot better.”