departments

In Brief

Sugaring Time Again; Former President Writes Autobiography; Alum Signs with Baseball Team; News from the Nursing and Business Administration Departments and more.

Making Their Mark

Learn about how our community members engage in writing, presentations and exhibitions.

Past as Prologue

Explore Haystack, a portal to the history of Colby-Sawyer College.

Colby-Sawyer Courier

Keep up with campus news from students' perspectives through the Colby-Sawyer Courier.

Solidus

This new literary magazine features creative writing in many genres by current students and alumni, faculty and staff, and a few friends and partners.

Q&Alumni

Find out what Colby-Sawyer alumni have been up to since graduation.

Currents: off to a good start

ESS Majors Volunteer Get Marathoners Off to a Good Start

Every April, Massachusetts holds the Boston Marathon, requiring thousands of volunteers to assist over 25,000 participants. From the town of Hopkinton they set out for the heart of Boston, running 26.2 miles to complete the marathon. Along the way, volunteers stand by with water, directions and provide general security. This year, I was one of the volunteers.

Bright and early on Marathon Day 2011, 30 Colby-Sawyer College students associated with the Exercise and Sports Science club traveled to Hopkinton, Mass. Our mission was simple: hand out water to the race participants that needed it. Since we were based at the beginning of the race, we handed out water before they began running. Our task: pour water into cups, stack the cups, and then distribute the cups to the individuals that wanted water. Although it was simple, I never knew how fun it could be. For each cup passed out there was a friendly hello or thank-you for helping.

With people coming from different states and countries, there was no shortage of individuality at the marathon. As the runners lined up, I noticed many were wearing costumes. There was a Spiderman strutting his stuff down the street, and a young woman wearing a Support Japan shirt wore a bright pink wig.

The runners kept surprising me with their generosity and kindness, especially when they were minutes from beginning a race. The runners were bundled up to keep warm with multiple layers to fight the wind; one ultimately lucky volunteer didn't know it would be so cold. A passing runner, though, saw the volunteer shivering and instantly shed her fur coat and handed it to the volunteer. She insisted she keep it, thanked her for her help with the marathon, and continued on her way.

Eventually, the thousands of runners left our company to start their race. Volunteers picked up the clothes that were shed by the runners and placed them in plastic bags to be donated to the Big Brother Big Sister Foundation. Even as the trucks of clothes drove away, I couldn't wait to volunteer again next year.

~Lisa Stanulonis '13