Freddie and Frieda 5K and Falcon Flapjacks began the Homecoming festivities Saturday morning. The two events worked hand-in-hand; if you ran the 5K, you could enjoy some Falcon Flapjacks after the race. The 5K started at 9 a.m. and the Falcon Flapjacks began around 10 a.m.
Anna Sankovich, the coordinator of alumni and annual giving, and Sarah Thompson, the assistant director of annual giving, were running these events this year. This is the 17th year that the 5K has happened, but the first time that Sankovich and Thompson have headed it.
Sankovich and said, “(The event has) always been the piece of the Homecoming weekend that connects what the Alumni Office is doing … with our Student Philanthropy Committee and Student Alumni Ambassadors.”
Both events were open to students, alumni and anyone else who wanted to run or eat flapjacks. Sankovich and Thompson talked about the anticipated attendance for the 5K.
Thompson said, “It’s about half-and-half based on the registration, for this year anyway. It’s about half students and half alumni. Usually, we have about 250 people that participate in the race.”
The two said the event is a good start to the day and helps get people out and exploring the area.
“It’s a really fun way to kick off the morning,” Thompson said. “The flapjacks are interactive, so they’re throwing them up in the air for people to try and catch them on their plate. It’s really a great family-friendly event.”
Cher Goeder, a resident of Toledo, Ohio, ran in the 5K. She said she heard about the event from an alumni of the University. This is the first time that she has attended the 5K.
Becky Tirabassi, a University alumni, did not run in the 5K, but attended Falcon Flapjacks. She came to the University from California. She said the event was a good way to get people moving and exploring parts of campus.
Tirabassi also said, “I wanted pictures with Freddie and Frieda, and I got those.”
Kevin Oynle, a graduate biology student, went to Falcon Flapjacks and ran the 5K. This was his first time at the event.
He said, “I feel the event is well organized. The guides planned it well.”
The two events were a kickoff to the rest of the day, as there were many people at these events. People were excited about the two events. But, that could have just been the pancakes talking.
