With the spring sports season underway and the temperatures rising, North is gearing up for its inaugural Tiger 5K, a new tradition aimed to unite the school community and North’s athletics. 

The Tiger 5K is a community road race that will benefit North’s student-athletes, coaches, and athletic department. It is hosted by North’s Boosters Club, which, according to its website, is dedicated to supporting all student-athletes, coaches, and athletic programs at North. The race is scheduled to take place at Dickinson Stadium, Sunday May 4 at 8:30 a.m., and all runners, walkers, and joggers are welcome to participate.

“I think it is a very interesting and nuanced approach to fundraising,” said junior Allie Danis, who plans to participate in the Tiger 5K. “It’s beyond just an opportunity to raise money for the athletic department. It’s an opportunity to bring together the larger athletic community.”

According to North parent Linda Swain, a co-president of the Boosters Club, the Tiger 5K offers a unique opportunity for students to participate together in building school spirit and support North athletics. 

“While we have specific fundraising goals, this year’s focus is on encouraging as many participants as possible, whether running, walking, volunteering, or cheering, to come together and kick off an event that people will be excited to participate in each year,” Swain said.

The club focuses on four main areas: advocating for improved facilities and resources, working with administrators to boost school spirit, sponsoring community events, and supporting coaches and the athletic director by funding equipment used across programs, according to Swain.

North parent Alec Southall, a member of the Boosters club, said, “We try to make sure that the best interests of the school and the athletic program are represented in the decisions that are made.”

According to Southall, events like the Tiger 5K will help the Boosters to reach their goals, for instance retouching the field or buying a new wrestling mat, while simultaneously growing school spirit for years to come. 

The Boosters Club has become a vital part of the North athletic community, with nearly half of all students at North participating in athletics, with 36 teams competing across three seasons. 

Last year the Boosters club helped North gather support for a new turf and track, and raised over $16,000 to support North Athletics. 

There are currently approximately  40 North students signed up for the race, but the athletic department is looking for more students to participate, according to North parent Rebecca Schmidt, a member of the Boosters Club. Sign-ups cost $35.00 for adults and $15.00 for youth for registration prior to May 4., and prices will increase by $5.00 the day of the race.