On Nov. 21, Associated Student Body (ASB) held its annual Turkey Trot event at the Benny Pierce field. This year, each lap around the track earned students a single hole punch, which could be exchanged for a mochi ice cream; two punches could be turned in for a slice of pizza.
The event was organized by ASB and supported by the Parent-Teacher Student Organization (PTSO). A row of tents on the field faced the bleachers, where students hole-punched cards and passed out food to runners who stopped by. On the other hand, ASB focused more on the logistics of the event.
“Everyone has a role in advertising, buying the food, coordinating everything and running the whole event,” ASB president Ava Cai said.
Despite the sunny outdoor track, the forecast a week prior had different plans. Given the rainy season, concerns arose about the rain, prompting the event to be held indoors in the gym. Leadership students planned a large-scale dodgeball event as a backup, with no plan for food as a reward for participation.
Cai said that while being outside proved to be a better experience, there were some hurdles due to inaccurate planning. Due to a much larger participation than forecasted, ASB had to implement a few last-minute changes. While ASB planned for around 120 students, over 300 students showed up on the track, creating unexpected obstacles.
First, they handed out plain slips of paper as a replacement for hole-punching cards, and then later had students choose between pizza and mochi ice cream even when they had enough hole punches for both to conserve food supplies.
“It was really well-advertised, so we had a way bigger turnout than we expected,” Cai said. “It would have been better with better planning, but overall, it was really successful.”
Whether students ended up running on the track or watching the crowd on the field, the organizers hoped the event provided students a quick break amid the approach of finals.
