Holiday Hustle raises $2K for Community School
Dr. Len Annetta, left, and Dr. Bonnie Glass, center, present a check of the money raised from the Holiday Hustle to ECU Community School Principal Tracy Cole.
With many gyms and recreational activities closed or canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, faculty in the ECU Department of Mathematics, Science and Instructional Technology Education (MSITE) turned to the outdoors for exercise.
Throughout the fall, MSITE held a step/walking competition among faculty and staff. After this competition ended in November, they decided to hold a holiday competition for the entire College of Education.
“The goals were to hold each other accountable and motivate each other to walk/move during the holiday season when the weather is cold and meals are large,” said Dr. Len Annetta, Taft Distinguished Professor of Science Education. “This was especially true this year as our fall semester ended at Thanksgiving and extended to the third week in January. That long time away from a daily routine could have been a recipe for a sedentary lifestyle change during the time of year that historically allowed for several celebrations.”
As part of the competition, Dr. Annetta and Dr. Bonnie Glass, a teaching instructor in science education, decided to also raise money for a good cause.
“We thought of being charitable during this time of year and thought it might also entice participants to give what they could to participate in the Holiday Hustle,” Annetta said. “We have extremely generous faculty and staff that found it in their hearts to help our ECU Community School.”
College of Education faculty, staff and friends raised $2,330 for the school and presented it to Community School Principal Tracy Cole in February. Annetta and Glass are planning on holding another competition in the future.
“We would love to do this again and, after cutting our teeth this year on how to pull this off, we would welcome anyone to participate in the future. It is a fun experience with some friendly competition, but the underlying tenet is to be healthy and help raise money for a school in need,” Annetta said.
To make a tax-deductible donation to the ECU Community School, visit University Advancement’s website.