Robert Morris University’s sports management students hosted their sixth annual 5K run in honor of Dr. Susan Hofacre on Saturday, Nov. 5.

More than 50 people ran and walked from Joe Walton Stadium Plaza through the campus and finished at the end zone of the football field to raise money for the Susan Hofacre Memorial Fund.

“After Susan passed, we wanted to continually honor her and her contributions. I was also looking for an idea for the sport sales class, so I ended up putting the two together and making the class sort of based on the race,” explained Sports Sales Professor John Clark.

Each year, the Clark’s students strategically put the race together.  On the first day of class, the students were challenged to sell sponsorships to local businesses and to promote the race.

After the race, the participants gathered in the Sewall Center with local news anchor Andrew Stockey of WTAE, who served as the Master of Ceremonies, to hear the winners of first and second place in eight different categories.

Stockey ran the race and also shared his thoughts on how Hofacre’s legacy is being carried.

“Well, she would probably be embarrassed that her name is on it because I know that she was somebody that was very low-key, but I think that she would be very proud because this is something that the students here put together,” said Stockey.

According to Clark, students have raised between $20,000 and $25,000 for the memorial fund.

“I know some people may say that that’s not a lot for the years that we’ve been doing this, but each year is a new class,” explained Clark.  “The important part is the students get a chance to sell the race and each year is like starting a new race; every year the race and the awards get better.”

The scholarship will benefit a sports management student, and a committee is being assembled with Dr. Hofacre’s family to put together a criterion based on academic and professional achievement. The first scholarship will be awarded relatively soon.

Hofacre was RMU’s only female athletic director from 2000 until she passed away from cancer in 2005.