The University of Wisconsin Oshkosh College of Nursing (CON) was recently presented with a $1,500 donation from the Community First Fox Cities Marathon presented by Miron Construction in recognition of the nursing student volunteers who assisted at the 2019 event in September.

Tara Perre, the credit union’s vice president of communications, and Steve Radich, a member of the marathon board of directors, met with CON Dean Judy Westphal to recognize the skilled student volunteers and their generous contributions. The donated money will be used for nursing scholarships to directly benefit the students.

Westphal consistently advocates the need for students to be active volunteers in their community. The nursing student organizations at UW Oshkosh provide ample opportunities for students to give back.

For the past three years, CON students have volunteered at the Community First Fox Cities Marathon where they assist with the triage units located at the end of the race.

The main focus of the units is to ensure finish line safety. Runners commonly experience rushes of adrenaline throughout a marathon, and after the race is finished, bodies can react in unpredictable ways.

The student volunteers assess the physical needs of each runner and also develop practical soft skills while gaining real-world experience. The volunteers use their medical knowledge in a fast-paced environment while cheering the runners on.

Plans are underway for the successful partnership to continue, the 2020 marathon is set to take place on Sunday, Sept. 20 on the UWO Fox Cities campus.