Runners and walkers will raise money for the general scholarship fund tomorrow by participating in the Annual Blaufuss wich Scholarship Walk/Run.

Runners and walkers will raise money for the general scholarship fund tomorrow by participating in the Annual Blaufuss Scholarship Walk/Run.

The event is named for John Blaufuss, a former Emporia State controller who was killed in December 2005 after being struck by a vehicle while out jogging. Blaufuss was an employee at ESU for over 30 years, becoming the controller in 1973 after serving as the business manager for the College of Emporia.

“(He) was a big believer in Emporia State and he wanted to see students succeed, so when he was killed the university thought that it would be good to honor him by doing this event every year,” said Shanna Basset, development officer for the event.

Basset said the event has been in existence for six years and is split into two different courses. Participants can choose between a five kilometer run or a two mile walk. Both courses begin at the Sauder Alumni Center and run through the campus, eventually returning to the finish line at Sauder.

Participants can register for the event at the Sauder Alumni Center during business hours or at the event itself beginning at 4:30 p.m. The cost is $25. Anyone who has already registered can also pick up their race packet which contains a T-shirt and bib number at the Sauder Alumni Center during business hours.

“I have volunteered at the Blaufuss Run with the ESU Ambassadors for the last two years,” said Lacee Hanson, senior communication major and intern for Basset. “Previously my job has been to direct runners and walkers on the route and cheer them on.”

Other participants in this year’s run are also previous volunteers.

“I am doing the Blaufuss run this year because I wanted to help donate to the General Scholarship Fund, support the Blaufuss family and because it is part of Senior week,” said Drake Foster, senior secondary social science education major.

Foster helped direct runners and walkers, handed out water and helped with the reception that followed the event last year.

The event begins at 6 p.m. tomorrow at the Sauder Alumni Center, followed by a reception at Sauder.

Luke Bohannon

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Blaufuss

The 5th Annual John Blaufuss Memorial Run/Walk will be held at 9 a.m. May 1, on campus. The event is held in honor of John Blaufuss, former Emporia State controller, and will also raise money for ESU General Scholarship Fund.

John Blaufuss served ESU for more than 30 years as the controller.

“(Blaufuss) dedicated a lot of resources to students of ESU, because he wanted to see them succeed,” said Shanna Bassett, development officer of the Sauder Alumni Center.

Blaufuss was killed by a drunk driver while jogging in December of 2005.

“Members of the ESU community wanted to do something in his honor, so they decided to start the John Blaufuss Run,” Bassett said.

Local businesses and community members donate money to help sponsor the event in Blaufuss’ memory.

“We raise support from ESU and the local community for the General Scholarship Fund, which is kind of financial aid to students, and benefits ESU students a lot,” said Angela Fullen, donor relations and special events Coordinator of the Sauder Alumni Center.

The ESU General Scholarship Fund provides support for students who meet certain requirements.

The event raised around $10,000 last year, and money is still coming in this year. The champion donor of the event this year is the Barnhart Builders of Olpe, which is owned by John Blaufuss’ son-in-law, Les Barnhart. The silver medal was won by the Blaufuss Family. The Bronze Medal was won by Edward Jone-Greg Seibel, Emporia Fitness, Emporia’s Radio Stations, Inc., Emporia Memorial Union, Genesis Health Club, Get Back to Health Chiropractic, Sodexo, The Emporia Gazette and the Olpe State Bank.

The race will start at the Sauder Alumni Center, 1500 Highland St. The 5K running course and the 2-mile walking course will be laid out throughout campus.

“There will be a reception for participants, family and friends at the Sauder Alumni Center,” Bassett said.

At the reception, the 1st, 2nd and 3rd places in both male and female categories in the 5K race will be awarded medals.

“Last year, I won the prize surprisingly, and the prizes were a bonus to my post-race refreshments,” said Jacob Kucza, senior elementary education major.

As the 5K champion of last year, this year will be his second year to participate the event.

“Although I’d like to win again, I am not counting on it,” Kucza said. “However, in this case, I am just entering to have a good time, with no expectations of winning. I try to run on a regular basis, and it’s more regular since the weather has turned warmer.”

Kucza encourages people to enter this race, and he thinks having people around you will make running any race an awesome way to get hooked.

“Anyone can register at the Sauder Alumni Center, Monday through Friday, between 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., with $25 registration fee,” Bassett said.

Participants may get the complimentary T-shirt with registration and excess T-shirts will be available at the event for $10. With over 75 people registered to-date, they are expecting around 150 the day of the event.

“The event has been prepared since January and plenty of staff help out to design the logos and T-shirts,” said Matt Rhea, development officer of the Sauder Alumni Center.

At the event, runners will be wearing yellow shirts and 40 volunteers will be wearing green ones. All the shirts contain the “a big pair of running shoes with a ID tag” logos at the front, and the donors list at the back.

“We decided to choose yellow and green to show the spring time,” Fullen said.

Rhea said that he thinks the John Blaufuss Memorial Run/Walk is a type of event that students want to get involved in, because it benefits them by giving out the student General Scholarships and they can get a free shirt.

“It is always a good time. It is always fun to wake up on the Saturday morning, and boys put on running shorts, girls putting their hair in ponytails, then enjoy the nice weather outside,” Fullen said.

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John Blaufuss

When John Blaufuss, former controller and interim head of the ESU Foundation, was killed on his morning jog by a drunk driver in December 2005, the Emporia State community took a significant blow.

“Jogging was something that he loved to do – sometimes he was out there at four or five in the morning jogging,” said Blake Davis, associate director of annual programs. “It was really a big loss to the community.”

However, ESU students and staff came together after his death to create a way of remembering Blaufuss and what he believed in.

“We decided to honor John for what he meant to this University,” Davis said. “Student scholarships were one thing that was always important to him and running was his passion.”

The fourth annual John Blaufuss Memorial Run/Walk will be held Saturday, May 2 at the Sauder Alumni Center to raise money for student scholarships with a 5K run and two mile walk.

“My dad was well known for his efforts to get scholarships for students,” said Angela Blaufuss, senior crime and delinquency studies major and ASG president. “He believed everyone should be able to afford to go to school and he would do anything he could to make that happen.”

John Blaufuss was controller of the ESU Foundation for 33 years and was a graduate of ESU.

“This event is a way of keeping John’s legacy alive after so many years with ESU,” said Diana Kuhlmann, associate vice president for fiscal affairs and budget director of ESU. “We’re letting people do something that John loved to give to a cause that he loved.”

The event raises money for the general scholarship fund of ESU through a combination of runner’s fees and corporate sponsorship.

“Last year we raised $10,000 for student scholarships,” Davis said. “We plan on raising as much as $11,000 to $12,000 this year.”

The continuation of the event shows how much ESU cares, Angela Blaufuss said.

“It means a lot to me that this university is doing something that my dad would approve of,” Blaufuss said. “He loved Emporia State and the life that the students brought to campus.”

Davis encourages students and community members to participate.

“The run is family friendly and has a good focus,” Davis said. “This is really for the kids that go to school here, and if students participate they’re only helping themselves. It’s a great chance to do that.”

Registration packets are available at the Sauder Alumni Center and on the university Web site. The registration fee is $25 and is non-refundable if the event is cancelled, according to the ESU Web site.

“This event links everything together,” Kuhlmann said. “We can remember John while serving the students like he would have wanted.”

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