The Lori Cohen Memorial 5K Trail could not have been a more perfect backdrop for the UCCS friends and family gathering for Family Weekend and the Helen and Arthur E. Johnson Beth-El College of Nursing and Health Sciences (Johnson Beth-El) 9th Annual Trek the Trail 5K.
Runners, hikers, walkers and families gathered this weekend for UCCS Family Weekend. Nestled between the time students are dropped off at the beginning of the semester and when they come home for the holidays, Family Weekend is the perfect reason to come back and visit UCCS to spend time with your student(s). From volleyball games to magic shows, this weekend had a little something for everyone in the family.
Trek the Trail 5K celebrated its ninth year to support a Johnson Beth-El student scholarship fund for healthcare students in programs like nursing, health promotion, human physiology and nutrition, exercise science and athletic training.
This year’s returning sponsor, Vance Hewuse, and his friend, Freddie McDaniel, recently celebrated McDaniel’s birthday. Both gentlemen are in their seventies, but you would never guess as they blow by on the trail. If you catch Hewuse, an Army veteran, on the trails around Colorado Springs, you may hear him share his catchphrase: “Heel, toe; show the sole.”
Hewuse and McDaniel’s veteran friends challenge one another to run regularly through their Team Red, White, and Blue in Colorado Springs.
“The trail through the ridges made it the best UCCS 5K yet,” shared Hewuse.
Hewuse became an avid runner for his health and turned his life around nearly four decades ago. Johnson Beth-El is proud to partner with a health advocate and veteran like Hewuse for the annual Trek the Trail 5K.
“Thank you, Vance! Johnson Beth-El is glad to have you on the trail with us for another year supporting student scholarship funds for health care students,” said race organizers Jess Kirby, Beth Graham and Hazel Reyes.
This year’s event also welcomed the first runner to complete the 5K event barefoot. The runner shared that he’s been building his tolerance and lives barefoot as often as possible. He finished among the top three fastest times.
Catch the event footage and bonus photos here: https://youtu.be/hQYFnDQzvYY
Thank you to all our volunteers, campus partners, friends and families that supported the Johnson Beth-El Trek the Trail 5K. A special thanks to Ms. Margie Hunt and the Athletic Training students for keeping everyone safe on race day and to Paige Whitney and our health and wellness promotion interns for making delicious and nutritious post-race snacks!
Even if you did not join us on the trail, you can still contribute to a health care student’s success at Clyde’s Crowd.
About Helen and Arthur E. Johnson Beth-El College of Nursing and Health Sciences
The Helen and Arthur E. Johnson Beth-El College of Nursing and Health Sciences has trained and educated the region’s health professionals and human performance professionals for over 118 years, and in 2022, celebrated 25 years with the University of Colorado Colorado Springs (UCCS).
At Johnson Beth-El, students meet the needs of a rapidly changing health care landscape by providing innovative, nationally accredited, and ranked programs.
Johnson Beth-El’s nursing programs are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). The Clinical Simulation Learning Center is accredited by the Society for Simulation in Healthcare (SSH). The Master’s of Science in Nutrition and Dietetics is the first Future Education Model (FEM) registered dietitian nutritionist (RDN) program in Colorado and accredited by ACEND. The Doctor of Physical Therapy program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE). The Master of Science in Athletic Training (MSAT) became the first graduate athletic training program in Colorado when it was awarded CAATE accreditation in Spring 2020.
Our traditional Bachelor of Science in nursing (BSN) program is ranked nationally by US News and World Report. The Helen and Arthur E. Johnson Beth-El College of Nursing and Health Sciences ranks #67 out of 681 national nursing programs. The Helen and Arthur E. Johnson Beth-El College of Nursing and Health Sciences is consistently ranked as a US News and World Report’s Top online Master’s in Nursing program for veterans. In 2022, we ranked #1 in the state of Colorado for veterans. Learn more about the Johnson Beth-El at johnsonbethel.uccs.edu.