Homecoming 5K - Colorado State University

The proceeds from the Homecoming 5K Donations are going towards facilitating student success initiatives within the Health and Exercise Science Department. They will be channeled into high-impact areas that directly bridge the gap between classroom learning and professional readiness.

For the HES department, these initiatives typically fall into three categories, but are not limited to,  accessibility, professional development, and hands-on research.

Student Scholarship & Financial Support
Financial barriers are often the primary hurdle for students. Funding can be used to create:

• Need-Based Emergency Grants: Small, rapid-response grants for students facing unexpected financial hardships that might otherwise force them to drop out.
• Underrepresented Student Awards: Scholarships specifically designed to increase diversity within the health and wellness professions.
• Certification Subsidies: Many HES students need external certifications (like ACSM, NSCA, or specialized clinical certifications) to be employable. Proceeds can help cover these testing fees.

Experiential Learning & Research
HES is a clinical and tactile field. Success initiatives often fund the "doing" part of the degree:

• Undergraduate Research Fellowships: Providing stipends for students to work in labs over the summer, allowing them to focus on discovery rather than a part-time job.
• Travel Grants for Conferences: Funding for students to present their research findings at regional or national conferences, which is vital for networking and graduate school applications.
• Advanced Equipment Access: Purchasing specialized software or portable diagnostic tools (like metabolic carts or high-end force plates) that students can use for senior capstone projects. 

Professional Career Readiness
These programs ensure students are ready for the workforce or medical school immediately upon graduation:

• Mentorship Programs: Pairing upperclassmen with alumni or local health professionals for structured career guidance.
• In-House Clinical Workshops: Bringing in guest lecturers or specialists to teach niche skills, such as advanced EKG interpretation or specialized athletic taping techniques, that are outside the standard curriculum.
• Community Health Outreach: Supporting student-led wellness programs where students provide fitness testing or health education to the local community, gaining real-world experience.