By MOLLY DAVIDSON / Staff Writer

HOOVER—Jefferson State Community College is hosting the inaugural Judy M. Merritt 5K Run and Walk on March 14 in memory of the college’s long-time president.

The run will benefit the recently created Judy M. Merritt Scholarship Fund.

“Judy Merritt’s legacy is about helping students and doing all the things that help provide access to education for everyone,” Jefferson State Director of College and Community Relations David Bobo said. “That’s what we’re trying to do at Jeff State everyday. This run will be to honor her legacy.”

The event will kick off with a 5K run at 8 a.m. The run will begin at the Judy M. Merritt Memorial Highway and continue through Veterans Park and around the Jefferson State Shelby-Hoover campus. A one-mile “fun walk” will follow at 9 a.m.

An award ceremony to recognize the top overall runners and top performers in each age group will immediately follow the run and walk. There will also be special awards given to current Jefferson State student participants.

“It’s for the community,” Bobo said, noting the March 14 event will also have family-friendly activities such as inflatables for children and food.

The inaugural edition of what Bobo said will become an annual event, the Judy M. Merritt 5K Walk and Run is also one of several events Jefferson State Community College is hosting to commemorate the college’s 50th anniversary, including a Miss Jefferson State pageant held in December and a special upcoming ceremony preceding graduation this spring.

To sign up for the March 14 event, visit any Jeff State cashier window or Jeffersonstate.edu/5K. Registration is $25 for the 5K and $10 for the one-mile fun walk before March 11, and $30 for the 5K and $15 for the one-mile fun walk after March 11 or on race day.