Showing their support and enthusiasm for Lycoming County SPCA's annual Paws Run are these members of Sigma Pi (from left, at front): Michael Dinapoli, Zach Sheafer, Aiden McGrath, Grayson Kilpatrick, Kenneth Lees, John Papaianni, Francesco Tomas, Cohen Crawford, Zac Cavaliere, Robert Miller, Nolan Hamby, Colt Kaminski, Zyler Blau and Dennis O'Donnell; and (from left, top row): Caleb Seeley, Cameron Quinn, Brian Brown, Edward Zukovich, Alec Strawmier and AJ Zerrenner.
Several Penn College students showed their care for the local community by volunteering their time to support the Lycoming County SPCA's annual Paws Run. Held April 12 at the South Williamsport Community Park, the event draws between 200 to 300 participants and is a 5K featuring categories for runners, walkers and human/pet teams. Penn College has been a generous supporter of the activity through loaning supplies and people: Penn College student, faculty and staff are active participants.
“I am incredibly grateful to the students and staff of Pennsylvania College of Technology who have this year, and for many years in the past, volunteered their time to support the Paws Run fundraiser,” said Alyssa Correll, executive director of the Lycoming County SPCA. “It is one of the organization’s largest fundraisers of the year and helps to ensure that the shelter can continue to operate and aid the community and its animals. Truly, without the support of our friends at PCT, this event would not be possible.”
Paws Run participants received Penn College race bags, donated by the Admissions Office, as a way to help promote Penn College within the local community. The Office of Student Engagement made the fundraiser its “Community Service Saturday” for the month of April and encouraged students and student organizations to volunteer.
Sigma Pi fraternity, who has a tradition of helping with this event for the past several years, came out in full force with 20 brothers volunteering, including five members (Kenneth Lees, Aiden McGrath, Dennis O’Donnell, AJ Zerrenner and Nolan Hamby) who took on a lead role in the logistical planning and execution of the event.
“I can’t say enough great things about the brothers of Sigma Pi who willingly stepped up to take on a lead role for this year’s event," said Timothy J. Mallery, director of residence life. "Their maturity and commitment as a group to this volunteer experience was admirable. For the past several years and especially this year, the event would not have been possible without Sigma Pi.”
Sigma Pi President Hamby added, “The Paws Run has been an amazing opportunity for us at Sigma Pi to connect more with the campus and the Williamsport community. We enjoyed being able to take a bigger role in the Paws Run. This event has provided us with the ability to do more with organizations such as the Lycoming County SPCA. Along with the Paws Run, we hold an event called Sigma Paws, where we bring dogs available for adoption onto the Penn College campus. Sigma Paws is coming up on Friday, May 2.”
Also participating in the Paws Run this year was the Physician Assistant Club, showing up with five members and lots of positive vibes and cheer for the event.
One of the shelter dogs soaks up the attention of Sigma Pi brothers.
Penn College student and Resident Assistant Mildred Sanchez (center) assists with registration.
Physician Assistant Club members bringing more positive vibes are (from left): Caitlin Forsgren, Courtney Burns, Madison Dalton, Angelina Morrone and Abby Route.
The Sigma Pi lead team, who helped with event logistics, came out in the cold, wet, predawn hours to help with set up. Pictured are McGrath, Lees, O’Donnell, Hamby and Zerrenner. (On Friday, May 2, Sigma Pi will hold Sigma Paws on the Penn College campus. The event features dogs available for adoption.)