West Virginia University’s Student Government Association has collaborated with the Center for Civic Engagement as well as the Mountaineer Parents Club to hold the third annual 2011 Student Memorial Scholarship Heart Walk on Saturday, Oct. 15, in conjunction with Fall Family Weekend.

The event is a 5K run or walk from 12 p.m. to 3 pm. at the Student Recreation Center fields. The entry fee is $10 for WVU students and $20 for all other participants. All students, parents and community members are welcome, and each participant will receive an official WVU Heart Walk T-shirt and pedometer, as well as entrance into raffles for prizes from local businesses. WVU students will also be rewarded community service hours for their participation.

The Student Memorial Scholarship is meant to honor the memory of students who lost their lives while attending WVU. It is given out on a yearly basis to a student who displays an outstanding sense of leadership through a student organization and is presented to the student at the annual SGA Inauguration ceremony. The scholarship was founded and is sponsored by SGA, and funded by the Heart Walk events as well as other fundraisers.

Student groups, residence halls and Greek organizations are encouraged to register students and family members in attempts to win the newly incorporated “Heart Award” for the group registering the most participants.

Taylor Richmond, student chair of the event, says the event has been successful in the past, and the registration fees of just 50 students supports one year’s scholarship.

“I’m very excited about this year’s walk since we have built a great partnership with the Center for Civic Engagement and the Parents Club this year,” Richmond said. “I’m looking forward to a large event to bring awareness to this cause.”

Richmond said his interest in this cause is special because of losing his cousin, a WVU freshman at the time, to a car accident outside of the Coliseum.

“Being the chair of this event helps me to give back to his memory as well as the memory of all other students who have lost their lives here at WVU,” Richmond said.

Every dollar raised through participation fees goes directly to the scholarship, Richmond said.

To register, visit the following link: http://simpleforms.scripts.wvu.edu/parents/HeartWalkFFW2011

-WVU-

mm/09/22/11

CONTACT: Taylor Richmond, Heart Walk
304-228-5918, Taylor.Richmond@mail.wvu.edu

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