UC Davis is hosting its first 5K Stride for Aggie Pride, on Sunday, April 7, to raise money for scholarships and emergency funding for students in need. All proceeds from the 3.1-mile run/walk event, which is being led by UC Davis students, will go toward student scholarships offered through the Associated Students of UC Davis (ASUCD) and awards offered through the We Are Aggie Pride student organization.

“UC Davis students and staff were motivated to start this new Aggie tradition, to find a fun way to raise funds for scholarships and UC Davis students in need,” said UC Davis student Artem Trotsyuk, who is the lead organizer of Stride for Aggie Pride and a student assistant to UC Davis Chancellor Linda P.B. Katehi. “Those who participate in this family-friendly event will enjoy some exercise, explore our beautiful campus and promote a good cause all at the same time.”

The race course will begin at the UC Davis West Quad and loop through UC Davis’ beautiful campus, including the UC Davis Arboretum. Race events will begin with group stretches at 9 a.m. with celebrities such as UC Davis’ mascot Gunrock. The race is scheduled to begin at 9:30 a.m.

“We are so proud of our students who are leading the way in building a culture of philanthropy on campus,” said Shaun Keister, vice chancellor of Development and Alumni Relations. “Through their actions, they are affirming that giving back is an important part of what it means to be an Aggie.”

In addition to the race, UC Davis will be hosting a series of events for participants. Live music and entertainment will be provided by The Afterglow — the only men’s a capella group on the UC Davis campus — Japanese Taiko Drum Ensemble, The Golden Turtle Lion Dance Association, a Nigerian dance group and others.

Campus departments, and local and regional businesses will have booths at the event and offer hands-on activities. Registered participants will be eligible for drawings for a wide range of prizes including a Kaplan academic prep course, San Francisco Giants and Sacramento Kings gear, Oakland A's VIP tickets, campus fitness classes, iPods, UC Davis Stores gift cards, an Akasha Yoga gift certificate, Mondavi Center show tickets and more.

Early-bird registration, prior to March 16, is $7 for students and $20 for nonstudents, which includes a race T-shirt. Registration from March 17 to race-day is $15 for students and $30 for nonstudents.

More information about the event, including online registration and directions for parking, can be found at http://5k.ucdavis.edu.

All funds raised through the Stride for Aggie Pride run count toward The Campaign for UC Davis, the university’s first comprehensive fundraising campaign that seeks to raise $1 billion from 100,000 donors by December 2014.

About ASUCD

The Associated Students of UC Davis is the official student government of UC Davis. ASUCD is primarily student-managed and staffed, employing more than 1,500 students. ASUCD offers golden opportunities to engage in leadership activities that range from student advocacy to management and finance and to event planning. The ASUCD Awards Endowment provides tuition support for more than a dozen outstanding UC Davis students annually with prizes of $500 to $1,000. Unique among UC Davis funds, selection is overseen by a committee of students with input from the ASUCD business manager. During 2013, ASUCD will match every dollar donated to the fund up to $50,000.

About We Are Aggie Pride

Founded in 2011 by UC Davis students, We Are Aggie Pride is the first student-run organization on the West Coast to award emergency funding to their peers. To date, the group has raised more than $58,000 in donations and sponsorships.