March '08 Newsletter: Post-Marathon Report and Celebration
Here are text excerpts from the March '08 e-newsletter. Subscribe to the mailing list on the sroakland.org home page to receive the full newsletter formatted with photos.
Student Voices
Each of the 32 students who finished the LA Marathon spoke about their experience at a celebration banquet March 7. Many were overcome with emotion and spoke through tears. Here are some of their comments:
"I remember I couldn't even run one mile, and then I did 26." - Elizabeth Nunez, Castlemont ninth-grader
"I didn't really like to run. But running taught me new things and built my endurance. ... Crossing the finish line, now I know that if I can do a marathon, I can do anything." - Eric Bagley, Oakland Tech ninth-grader
"Every time we came together on a Saturday morning, meeting new people, that was great for me. Thanks to all the volunteers who supported me." - Ernesto Vega, Castlemont junior
"Him [Spencer] being tough on us made us so much better, and now we're wearing our medals, proud of what we've done. ... I'd like to thank every single volunteer. It's great for adults to be helping us get that accomplishment." - Salvador Lopez, Castlemont senior
"Ever since ninth grade when I crossed that first finish line, it just felt so great that I came back again. ... This is something I never thought I'd do. I always challenged myself academically but not physically. I hope you guys [the volunteers] in the future keep inspiring people to go forward." - Joanna Morales, Castlemont senior and four-time marathoner
"I'm just glad to be here today and can't believe I made it this far." - Danielle Bond, Oakland Tech ninth-grader
"I still do not know why I run, but I know it's the only space and time I have to relax, meditate, and reflect on myself ... and also to meet other people. It's been a wonderful experience." - Esmeralda Aguilar, Castlemont senior
"I'd like to thank all the volunteers and everyone who believed in me, because my friends didn't think I could do it, and I didn't think I could do it -- but I did it." – Taylor Hill, Oakland Tech ninth-grader
From MetWest teacher and SRO volunteer Young Whan Choi, who ran the marathon with the students: "As teachers, we have a lot to learn from the young folks in the room ... about motivation and experience."
Message from Executive Director Spencer Hooper:
To the entire SRO team of staff, volunteers, and supporters: Thank you for a job well done and congratulations on yet another successful season! Thanks to the extraordinary effort of a collective group of passionate individuals, every student who started the marathon this season proudly crossed the finish line in Los Angeles on March 2. At our post-marathon banquet, we had the opportunity to hear from SRO's Board of Directors Chair, Bridget Harper. I would like to share with you a few of her observations and our shared vision for SRO's future. She spoke of how SRO is entering the second phase of its evolution, and of what we need to do to become a premier not-for-profit organization in the East Bay. As she put it, SRO is at a pivotal point, and "it is truly an exciting place -- the organization has solidly and consistently executed year over year and is ready and primed to take it to the next level." Please read the full text of her excerpted remarks on our website's blog.
- Spencer Hooper
SRO at the LA Marathon
(A few captions to photos that published in the newsletter):
- This season, SRO had its first father-son team: Matin and Umar Abdel-Qawi. Matin is a principal at Castlemont and Umar is a ninth-grader at MetWest. They ran every step of the way together during training runs and the marathon. At the post-marathon banquet, Umar called his father "my great inspiration."
- Ahmed Farah, a junior at Oakland Technical High School, ran the LA Marathon with volunteer Jamie Saunders and was the first SRO student to finish. Ahmed moved to the United States from Somalia two years ago. He commutes over an hour to school each morning, works with his SRO-provided tutor after school, and attended SRO practice three days a week while maintaining a part-time job at Safeway. His commitment and hard work paid off in LA!
- Syeda Jones, a ninth-grader at Oakland Tech, ran and walked the whole marathon with volunteer Christine Chapon. They approached the finish after the marathon course had closed and were accidentally detoured off course by street sweepers, which made their route a bit longer. At the banquet, a tearful Syeda spoke publicly: "I was the last person to finish, and the only one who did more than 26.2. ... Thank you, everybody. You stayed with me. You cheered me on through the finish, and it made me run faster when I saw everyone there."
Also at the banquet, Christine was singled out for special recognition for her six years of service as Volunteer Coordinator for Students Run Oakland. Executive Director Spencer Hooper said, "Everybody knows Christine throws everything she has into SRO."
Thanks and Misc.
A grand total of 45 SRO volunteers went to Los Angeles to chaperone the students. 32 volunteers ran with the students, 5 offered support while cycling the course, and 8 worked the finish line and post-race support. Heidi Anders worked tirelessly to coordinate the logistics, and thanks to her work, the entire weekend ran smoothly. As Spencer said at the banquet: "To the volunteers, thank you again and again and again."
Students participated in two community service events in February: 11 SRO students helped at a Valentine dance for youth and young adults of various abilities, organized by the Family Resource Network and Berkeley Parks and Recreation, and 16 students (pictured above) helped clean up the shoreline at MLK Park in Oakland for the East Bay Regional Park District. Thank you to the SRO volunteer drivers and chaperones who participated in these projects: Alita Sanchez, Kelley Haskins, Mark Tipton, Peter Gertler, Jodi Funk, Christine Chapon, Karen Kline, and Heidi Anders.
In February, SRO Volunteer Peter Gertler organized an opportunity for SRO students to learn about careers in planning, engineering, and architecture by visiting the firm HNTB Corp.,
where he works as a vice president. Several students attended. Many thanks to Peter and HNTB for offering this tour and pizza for the students!
Stay Tuned for Next Season: SRO will launch its ninth season this fall, stronger than ever and ready to reach a greater number of students. Want to be a part of it? Email Volunteer Coordinator Christine Chapon.
Student Voices
Each of the 32 students who finished the LA Marathon spoke about their experience at a celebration banquet March 7. Many were overcome with emotion and spoke through tears. Here are some of their comments:
"I remember I couldn't even run one mile, and then I did 26." - Elizabeth Nunez, Castlemont ninth-grader
"I didn't really like to run. But running taught me new things and built my endurance. ... Crossing the finish line, now I know that if I can do a marathon, I can do anything." - Eric Bagley, Oakland Tech ninth-grader
"Every time we came together on a Saturday morning, meeting new people, that was great for me. Thanks to all the volunteers who supported me." - Ernesto Vega, Castlemont junior
"Him [Spencer] being tough on us made us so much better, and now we're wearing our medals, proud of what we've done. ... I'd like to thank every single volunteer. It's great for adults to be helping us get that accomplishment." - Salvador Lopez, Castlemont senior
"Ever since ninth grade when I crossed that first finish line, it just felt so great that I came back again. ... This is something I never thought I'd do. I always challenged myself academically but not physically. I hope you guys [the volunteers] in the future keep inspiring people to go forward." - Joanna Morales, Castlemont senior and four-time marathoner
"I'm just glad to be here today and can't believe I made it this far." - Danielle Bond, Oakland Tech ninth-grader
"I still do not know why I run, but I know it's the only space and time I have to relax, meditate, and reflect on myself ... and also to meet other people. It's been a wonderful experience." - Esmeralda Aguilar, Castlemont senior
"I'd like to thank all the volunteers and everyone who believed in me, because my friends didn't think I could do it, and I didn't think I could do it -- but I did it." – Taylor Hill, Oakland Tech ninth-grader
From MetWest teacher and SRO volunteer Young Whan Choi, who ran the marathon with the students: "As teachers, we have a lot to learn from the young folks in the room ... about motivation and experience."
Message from Executive Director Spencer Hooper:
To the entire SRO team of staff, volunteers, and supporters: Thank you for a job well done and congratulations on yet another successful season! Thanks to the extraordinary effort of a collective group of passionate individuals, every student who started the marathon this season proudly crossed the finish line in Los Angeles on March 2. At our post-marathon banquet, we had the opportunity to hear from SRO's Board of Directors Chair, Bridget Harper. I would like to share with you a few of her observations and our shared vision for SRO's future. She spoke of how SRO is entering the second phase of its evolution, and of what we need to do to become a premier not-for-profit organization in the East Bay. As she put it, SRO is at a pivotal point, and "it is truly an exciting place -- the organization has solidly and consistently executed year over year and is ready and primed to take it to the next level." Please read the full text of her excerpted remarks on our website's blog.
- Spencer Hooper
SRO at the LA Marathon
(A few captions to photos that published in the newsletter):
- This season, SRO had its first father-son team: Matin and Umar Abdel-Qawi. Matin is a principal at Castlemont and Umar is a ninth-grader at MetWest. They ran every step of the way together during training runs and the marathon. At the post-marathon banquet, Umar called his father "my great inspiration."
- Ahmed Farah, a junior at Oakland Technical High School, ran the LA Marathon with volunteer Jamie Saunders and was the first SRO student to finish. Ahmed moved to the United States from Somalia two years ago. He commutes over an hour to school each morning, works with his SRO-provided tutor after school, and attended SRO practice three days a week while maintaining a part-time job at Safeway. His commitment and hard work paid off in LA!
- Syeda Jones, a ninth-grader at Oakland Tech, ran and walked the whole marathon with volunteer Christine Chapon. They approached the finish after the marathon course had closed and were accidentally detoured off course by street sweepers, which made their route a bit longer. At the banquet, a tearful Syeda spoke publicly: "I was the last person to finish, and the only one who did more than 26.2. ... Thank you, everybody. You stayed with me. You cheered me on through the finish, and it made me run faster when I saw everyone there."
Also at the banquet, Christine was singled out for special recognition for her six years of service as Volunteer Coordinator for Students Run Oakland. Executive Director Spencer Hooper said, "Everybody knows Christine throws everything she has into SRO."
Thanks and Misc.
A grand total of 45 SRO volunteers went to Los Angeles to chaperone the students. 32 volunteers ran with the students, 5 offered support while cycling the course, and 8 worked the finish line and post-race support. Heidi Anders worked tirelessly to coordinate the logistics, and thanks to her work, the entire weekend ran smoothly. As Spencer said at the banquet: "To the volunteers, thank you again and again and again."
Students participated in two community service events in February: 11 SRO students helped at a Valentine dance for youth and young adults of various abilities, organized by the Family Resource Network and Berkeley Parks and Recreation, and 16 students (pictured above) helped clean up the shoreline at MLK Park in Oakland for the East Bay Regional Park District. Thank you to the SRO volunteer drivers and chaperones who participated in these projects: Alita Sanchez, Kelley Haskins, Mark Tipton, Peter Gertler, Jodi Funk, Christine Chapon, Karen Kline, and Heidi Anders.
In February, SRO Volunteer Peter Gertler organized an opportunity for SRO students to learn about careers in planning, engineering, and architecture by visiting the firm HNTB Corp.,
where he works as a vice president. Several students attended. Many thanks to Peter and HNTB for offering this tour and pizza for the students!
Stay Tuned for Next Season: SRO will launch its ninth season this fall, stronger than ever and ready to reach a greater number of students. Want to be a part of it? Email Volunteer Coordinator Christine Chapon.
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