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trek the trail

GCC's annual Trek the Trail Walkathon is Saturday

By Billie Owens

Press release:

Genesee Community College's annual Trek the Trail Walkathon to benefit the student scholarship fund happens this Saturday, April 21, rain or shine. It begins at 9:30 a.m. at the Batavia campus Nature Trail and lasts until 12:30 p.m.

Walkers of all ages can solicit pledges from friends and family and enjoy a pleasant walk around the campus nature trail, with various stops for breaks, snacks and fun! Bring little ones in strollers and friendly dogs on leashes.

For a $15 donation, participants get a T-shirt, Trek Treats, prizes and lunch, with plenty of photo opportunities at various sites along the trail and on campus. Health screenings and children's games will also be offered at various stops.

Register the day of the trek or online and secure pledges from family and friends: http://www.gccfoundation.kintera.org/trek

GCC's annual alumni Trek the Trail walkathon adds online features

By Billie Owens

Press release:

For the first time ever, trekkers who take part in Genesee Community College's annual alumni Trek the Trail walkathon can go online to solicit pledges from family and friends, form teams, and create their own web page!

The fundraiser, which benefits the GCC Foundation Student Scholarship Fund, includes a morning of fun and outdoor activities for all ages. For a $15 donation, each registered trekker gets a T-shirt, treats, prizes and lunch, and a chance to join their friends and family on an engaging stroll around the Batavia campus.

And new this year, walkers can register, ask for and tally pledges, challenge friends, and create their own page on the Trek the Trail website: www.gccfoundation.kintera.org/trek.

Last-minute registration gets under way at 9:30 a.m. on April 21, with sign-in at the Stuart Steiner Theater Lobby. The trek then heads out along the Cougar Paws Pathway, with various stops for healthy treats along the Nature Trail to the soccer stadium and baseball fields, where kids (big and small!) can run the bases. New this year: a photo opportunity in front of the giant GCC sign at the old soccer fields.

Hikers continue to College Village, where playtime awaits at the Ducky Pond, and moves to the gym, where future hoops stars can show off their dunking style. Walkers then progress to the Student Union and the Forum, where various medical technicians will offer blood pressure readings and other healthy check-ups. The walkathon wraps up with lunch under the tent.

"This is a terrific opportunity for folks to enjoy some light exercise in the fresh air, have fun with their children, and help the College Foundation provide scholarship money for students," said Alumni Affairs Coordinator Jackie Christenson. "We're very excited about the new website and think it will make this fundraiser more accessible for a lot more people!"

Prizes will be awarded for most pledges and most creative team (costumes are welcome!), and those who correctly answer trivia questions along the way will be entered into a prize raffle.

Sponsorship opportunities for Trek the Trail are still available and can be arranged by contacting Jackie Christenson, Alumni Affairs coordinator, at 343-0055, ext. 6265 or jkchristenson@genesee.edu.

Two new events at GCC: Radio DJs reunion and 'Trek the Trail'

By Billie Owens

This information comes from Genesee Community College.

Two unique new opportunities will make Genesee Community College's Batavia campus the place to be on May 6 and 7.

That weekend, there'll be a reunion for WGCC disc jockeys, as well as a community walkathon fundraiser for student scholarships -- "Trek the Trail."

RADIO REUNION

The idea for a Radio Reunion came about at GCC's Homecoming event in October earlier this academic year, said Valerie Bello, instructor of Media Arts and Communication. About 25 WGCC alumni got together and had so much fun on the air together that they wanted to come back in the spring.

"For a lot of these alumni coming back, it's all about how the station represents fun memories for them," Bello said. "When these guys come back, it's like they are kids in a candy store. They are excited to get on the air and tell stories about what they did when they were students here."

Bello said that when a few alumni got to meet up with a few of their former instructors, the conversations made for some great radio time.

The Homecoming Reunion was "a huge hit" in October according to recent Alumni Hall of Fame recipient, Matt Locker. He was an integral part of the success of WGCC when he was a student and continues to work hard to keep in touch with other Communications and Media Arts alumni and support WGCC with in-kind contributions of his time, talent and resources.

Locker prepared an exciting radio-spot to advertise the reunion this spring, saying, "Voices from years gone-by return to the air to reminisce, rekindle and play a wide variety of music – it's an on-air time machine and you're invited to tune in!"

Hear Locker's WGCC ad by going to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sOuJWWW0lWc.

All GCC graduates who may be interested in being part of the WGCC Radio Reunion from 1 to 10 p.m. on May 6-7 are asked to e-mail: wgccfm907@gmail.com <http://wgccfm907@gmail.com> with the time slots for preferred airtime that weekend.

Or, tune in to 90.7 FM to hear some college alumni tell colorful stories of "back in the day" when they enjoyed their time at GCC. For WGCCFM's Web site with a listing of the current schedule, shows and DJs go to www.wgcc-fm.com <http://wgccfm907@gmail.com>.

TREK THE TRAIL

Saturday, May 7 marks the debut of another event featuring outdoor fun and festivities for the whole family. The Alumni Trek the Trail offers an exciting opportunity for community members, alumni and/or current students to take a two-mile trek around the Batavia campus while raising funds for future students and programs.

Individuals or teams can sign up for the walkathon to support Genesee Community College Foundation's scholarship fund. Everyone is encouraged to participate -- no matter what their running, walking, hiking or trekking abilities may be. The main objective is to have fun! Come dressed up in innovative themes to celebrate the college with prizes awarded to the best outfitted walkers!

Registration for Trek the Trail begins at 9:30 a.m. in the Theatre Lobby and the walk is scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. Participants will have the opportunity to check out many hot spots on campus along the designed Cougar Paws Pathway.

Various "Trek Treats" will be given to walkers as they make their way from the Nature Trail, to the new soccer stadium, baseball fields, new lighted tennis courts, College Village and the newly renovated gym.

Trek the Trail winds up on the East side of campus where the enjoyment continues! A lunch featuring hotdogs and hamburgers, with an awards ceremony concluding the event and fundraising festival. Prizes will be given to individuals and teams with the most creative costumes and the most pledges. For the youngest trekkers, Mr. Scribbles will be on hand for additional entertainment.

Alumni Affairs Coordinator Jackie Christenson said it feels great to be able to offer community members a chance to tour the campus themselves and enjoy a festive event that also supports the college.

"I'm excited to offer the alumni, business owners and residents of the community a chance to check out all our new facilities in person, and to bring family, friends or even colleagues in on a fun and casual opportunity," she said. "People will be impressed when they tour the campus and see it with their own eyes."

Registration for Trek the Trail is $15 per person or $50 per team, with no limit on the number of team members.

Individuals who raise $100 or more in pledges will have their registration fee waived, and teams that raise $500 or more in pledges will also have their registration fee waived.

All participants will receive a T-shirt, lunch and "Trek Treats" as part of their registration fee. Details are posted on the GCC Alumni Web site at www.genesee.edu/Alumni.

Sponsorship opportunities for Trek the Trail are still available and can be arranged by contacting Jackie Christenson, Alumni Affairs coordinator, at 343-0055, ext. 6265 or <http://jkchristenson@genesee.edu>.

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