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Troy University’s Tau Upsilon Alpha partnered with Freshman Forum to put on the annual Turkey Trot 5k race Saturday morning. Troy’s Greek life, student organizations, SGA, community members and students all gathered on the quad to run for a good cause.
The goal of the Turkey Trot race was to raise money for the Owen Wayne Lewis Memorial Endowed Scholarship. This scholarship is awarded annually to a student majoring in social work, tourism, hospitality, human services or event management. It is also gifted to a first-generation college student.
Owen Wayne Lewis was the son of two university professors. He passed away suddenly from lymphocytic myocarditis and his memory lives on in the scholarship, the Turkey Trot and his foundation, O’s Cool Bikes.
Lane Watson, a freshman sports management major with a minor in leadership from Fairhope, Alabama, was the first to finish the 3.1-mile race in 15 minutes.
“It was a very great thing,” Watson said. “My buddy was helping push me along, so it was pretty fun running with him and getting to takeoff down the roundabouts and around the quad.”
Watson shared one of his favorite moments from the race Saturday morning.
“Going down Chancellor Hawkins Hill was really fun, and it made me look at the campus and admire the campus,” Watson said. “Going down that hill and being able to look at our amphitheater, the pond and the art area was probably the prettiest moment of the race.”
At the Turkey Trot, water stations, flags and members of Freshman Forum were set up all around the campus of Troy during the race to keep runners and walkers on track.
Amber Steen, a senior social work major from Brewton, Alabama, is the president of Troy’s human services student honor society, Tau Upsilon Alpha.
“It's been a great experience,” Steen said. “The whole event is just about promoting that community and bringing the campus and community together.”
Steen emphasizes the importance of community and unity amongst our fellow Trojans.
“We're trying to increase community involvement,” she said. “It’s finals and everybody knows to just have fun and do a little bit of exercise. It really helps with your stress.
“We wanted to get the community and campus collaborating, raising money and pouring back into our students.”
Runners and walkers in the race had free range around Troy’s campus including going around the quad, around the dorms, down George Wallace Road and up the hill on Elm Street.
Sarah Francis, a junior rehabilitation and disability studies major from Jacksonville, Alabama, was also a runner who participated in the Turkey Trot.
“A lot of people work their minds all week and now they get to work their bodies, so it’s rest for their minds and a really good atmosphere on a Saturday morning,” Francis said.
“I love to get out and challenge myself, and I knew this would push me in a good way.
“It was lovely, and I'll remember this forever.”
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