Douglas students contribute to run fundraiser

Students of Douglas High art teacher Kelley Yost were busy Sept. 24 giving back to an organization that has given to them.

"Some of the materials we have in this class come straight from Ed Foundation grants," Yost said. "This a good experience for the kids."

Students spent three days shaping clay into about 50 oval-like medallions, which will be used as awards in the Douglas County Education Foundation's Run Ed Run fundraising event Sunday.

"The students are handcarving them, so each one is a little different," Yost said. "They're based on the same design, but each is unique."

Students used colored pencils to trace a paper design onto the clay surfaces. With patience and precision, they each carved out a background of mountains and the event's namesake, book-shaped character Ed.

"Just the little inscriptions are difficult," said junior Tim Owens, holding up his medal. "We're each doing one good one."

His clay piece would later join the others, to be fired in a kiln and then glazed.

"You have to make sure the lines are deep enough," said 16-year-old classmate Jessica Drake.

Drake was happy to contribute to the upcoming event, knowing the proceeds will fund grants for Douglas County schools and will also fund the teacher of the year program.

"It definitely feels good," she said.

But Yost's students aren't the only ones helping out. Art teacher Rita Borselli's screen-printing students are making T-shirts for the event, and the Douglas High School culinary arts program is preparing and hosting a pasta feed the night before the run, 5 to 8 p.m. Saturday in the high school commons. Cost for the dinner is $5, and participants can register for the race.

"I was thrilled to be asked to be part of the run this year," said culinary arts instructor Kerry Stack. "The culinary program has been a part of two previous pasta feeds, and the students enjoy giving back to our community. It is a great bonding time for the students as well. They work hard, then have fun."

Stack said the foundation will be donating all proceeds from the pasta feed to the DHS culinary program.

On Sunday, race-day registration begins 7 a.m. at the Douglas High Big George Athletic Complex. The 5K/10K run starts at 9 a.m. and the kids fun run, for those under age 10, starts at 11 a.m. From the high school, runners will proceed through Park Cattle Ranch and down Muller Lane. There will also be a barbecue and silent auction. Cost is $20 for the 5k event, $25 for the 10K event, and $5 for the kids fun run. Race-day registration will be accepted with an additional $5 fee. Those interested can register online at www.douglascountyeducationfoundation.org.