College presidents run their universities. Yet, President Tim Cook of Clackamas Community College (OR) will actually run for his students this summer. In an effort to raise funds and awareness about students’ basic needs, Cook will engage in a statewide jogathon, hitting all 17 community college campuses in Oregon over 50 consecutive days. And he’ll need to average 32 miles every day to make it all happen.
The 56-year-old president is hoping to raise at least $150,000 to benefit campus-based student assistance funds. Donors so far have included lawmakers and higher education professionals with some even offering to run with him or meet him along the way.
“It’s audacious enough that it’s a little bit terrifying, but I’m pretty confident that I can manage it,” Cook told Oregon Live.
He’s doing it to help with many students’ current realities. “It’s just this constant challenge for students to try to survive while they’re trying to get a degree or a certificate so they can actually get a good paying job for their families,” Cook said. “It’s not like they’re looking for handouts, they’re just trying to survive.”
Read more about President Cook’s 1,500-mile summer run here.
