On your marks, get set, go! Chalk was thrown in the air as students rushed through the starting line, indicating Homecoming Week at Utah Tech University had started.
To start the week off, the Utah Tech Student Association hosted the Blazer Dash Sept. 23. This event included the chalk color run, car smash, food vendors and a t-shirt-making stand. Music was played throughout the night inviting students to mingle with each other and participate in the events to feel the school spirit.
Blazer Dash has not been an event during Homecoming Week for the past couple of years. Nick Fajardo, a senior history major from St. George, is the Stampede president and was one of the faces behind the scenes of the event. He said the event was brought back to highlight Homecoming Week and school spirit. Part of creating the school spirit was bringing sports teams, cheer team, Blaze dance team and Brooks the Bison to the event.
“It’s [Blazer Dash] a fun kickoff for Homecoming Week, and to bring that energy while including the whole school,” Fajardo said.
The event started with red and blue chalk being handed out as participants checked into the race so that they could decorate themselves beforehand. Chalk was additionally thrown at the starting line and throughout the course. Once “go” was chanted, students weaved across campus from the Gardner Student Center all the way down to the Greater Zion Stadium. At the finish line, students were welcomed by the Blaze, as well as football and volleyball players to cheer them across the line.
The first 25 students to cross the finish line received a free food voucher from any of the vendors at the event. Francisco Hernandez, a freshman computer science major from Enterprise, was amongst the first 25 students to cross the line. Hernandez said he didn’t expect himself to win one of the food vouchers.
“I think pushing yourself, even if you don’t really gain anything from it, is kind of nice,” Hernandez said.
For students, this was an event to take a break from school and to enjoy the start of Homecoming Week. Abigale Hardy, a sophomore accounting major from La Verkin, was one of the many students who attended the event with her friends. Hardy said chalk runs are an event she always enjoys attending.
“At the elementary school that’s in my town, every year we do a chalk run,” Hardy said.
Paige Harris, a sophomore history major from Orderville, was also one of the competitors for the chalk run. She said she attended the event to hang out with friends and enjoy the food trucks, which is also why she enjoys Homecoming Week.
“I don’t want to just sit at home, so I’m like, ‘let’s go out and do something,'” Harris said.
However, not every student attending the event had to be involved in the chalk run and could still enjoy other aspects. After the race, the car smash occurred where students took turns smashing an old car. Spray-painted on the car was football’s competitor this week: Abilene Christian University. Additionally, the first 100 students at the t-shirt-making booth were able to spray paint t-shirts and make their own designs.
From the red and blue chalk run to smashing a car with the opposing team’s name, Homecoming Week was kicked off with the Blazer Dash. Check out the rest of the week’s schedule to continue to bring the Trailblazer spirit.
