A dedicated group of runners, walkers and their supporters raised nearly $17,500 for student scholarships and emergency assistance last Sunday (April 7) as the campus hosted its first 5K Stride for Aggie Pride.

Proceeds from the student-organized event are going to the ASUCD Scholarship endowment and the We Are Aggie Pride student organization, which provides emergency funding to students to cover food, rent and other essential costs. 

Race organizers said an estimated 1,850 people took part in the stride in one form or another, including 1,437 who actually ran or walked the scenic, 3.1-mile course around the campus, along with many others registrants, volunteers and staff.

In all, the Stride for Aggie Pride raised $16,831 through registration fees, in addition to $650 in donations — including a $500 donation from the UC Davis Foundation Board.

"Our first philanthropic fun run was a huge hit!" said Artem Trotsyuk, the race director and a student assistant to Chancellor Linda P.B. Katehi.

"Moving forward, I would hope that this event could become an annual spring Aggie tradition on campus, one that brings the community together to promote health and wellness while continuing to raise money for student scholarship support."

All funds count toward The Campaign for UC Davis, the university’s first comprehensive fundraising campaign that seeks to raise $1 billion from 100,000 donors by December 2014.

TAPS invites campus to 'Plug In and Go'

TAPS next week presents a hybrid and full-battery electric vehicle showcase called TakeCharge: Plug In and Go. And when TAPS says “go,” it means it!

The free exposition is scheduled from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesday (April 16) in the Silo courtyard and the adjacent parking lot (43), where licensed drivers will have the opportunity to take test drives in vehicles from Ford, General Motors, Mitsubishi and Nissan.

Transportation and Parking Services has partnered with auto dealerships and regional advocacy groups to present TakeCharge: Plug In and Go — in line with TAPS’ role in encouraging staff, faculty and staff to be more sustainable in their transportation to, from and about campus.

TAPS already promotes carpooling and vanpooling, bus and train travel, and bicycling and walking, through the goClub. And now, TAPS is spreading the word on hybrid and full-battery electric vehicles.

Also participating in the exhibition: UC Davis Fleet Services and the Yolo-Solano Air Quality Management District.

TakeCharge is an online resource for electric vehicle owners and prospective owners. It is funded by the Sacramento Area Council of Governments, the Valley Vision think tank, the Sacramento Metropolitan Air Quality Management District and the Sacramento Municipal Utilities District, plus Greenwise Joint Venture, a regional, nonprofit organization.

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IN MEMORIAM: Retired police chief Mike McEwen dies

Earle Miguel “Mike” McEwen, UC Davis’ second and longest serving police chief, died of heart failure Feb. 20 in Sedona, Ariz., where he had lived in retirement. He was 83.

McEwen just before his retirement, 1991

He became the campus police chief in 1970 and served until his retirement in 1991. He came to UC Davis from the Pasadena Police Department, where he walked a beat, and worked as a motorcycle officer and a detective.

As a sergeant in Pasadena, he spent five years in community relations during a time of high tension in the city — which made him a natural for the campus Police Department. In choosing McEwen, student, campus and community leaders wanted someone who could and would work with the students, not harm them, during the Vietnam protest era, according to an obituary due to be published Sunday (April 14) in The Davis Enterprise.

This was then-Chancellor James Meyer’s wish, “and Mike worked tirelessly to fulfill it,” the obituary reads. “His mission was to ensure that not one student was harmed on his campus.” One thing that may have helped: He never wore a uniform.

McEwen, while serving as campus chief, also coordinated police services for the entire UC system, acting as a liaison with the Office of the President.

He was a member of the California Peace Officers Association and the International Chiefs of Police.

He is survived by his wife, Marjorie; children Jennifer, Maureen, Kathy, Amy, Michael and Mark; and grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

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