Diploma Dash, 5K SA City Race& Fitness Walk, 2-21

L-R: UTSA ROTC cadets win "braggin rights," KENS-5 Anchorwoman & co-host Sarah Lucero, Ramapge Mascot, T-Bone, participants, event banner

News from Diploma Dash

UTSA Diploma Dash –5K San Antonio City Championship Race & Fitness Walk
By Cpt. Tony Mandujano
Special to the Walker Report

Volunteers showed up @ 7 a.m. to finish event set up and moved into their position to hand out packets to runners/wheelchairs/walkers. Many had pre-registered and race day registration started at 8 a.m. before the race.

All participants received the official 2009 Diploma Dash t-shirt and goodie bag. Omar Hernandez, UTSA Senior-Public Affairs Officer, welcomed sponsors at their tables and warmly welcomed few photojournalists (UTSA, Walker Report, Express News) at the event. KABB’s Monica Taylor co-hosted the event on stage with KENS-5 Anchorwoman Sarah Lucero. Rampage’s mascot, T-bone participated as well. The annual Diploma Dash started at 9 a.m. with the three different start ups;

1st) Wheelchair participants (Miller Team),
2nd) Team participants
3rd) Individual participants.

The 5K started in front of the Convocation Center, UTSA 1604 Campus. Custom medals were awarded to 1st, 2nd and 3rd places. The UTSA’s Army ROTC formed a strong team and challenged other teams for the bragging rights. They won those braggin rights.

Sponsors in categories for the Diploma Dash 2009:
Pacesetter Sponsor Valero Energy Corporation
Summa Cum Laude: AccuPrint, Alamo Café, Capital Group Companies, H-E-B, Run Wild Sports San Antonio Federal Credit Union, Sciano Family, Southwest Business, Corporation/Employee Benefits Consulting

Magna Cum Laude: Academy Sports & Outdoors, The Campbell Family, Cleary Zimmermann Engineers, Iniguez Athletic Advertising and Promotion, Liberty Mutual, Nix Health Care System, Roger Soler's Sports, San Antonio Express-News, Security Service Federal Credit Union, Time Warner Cable

Cum Laude: Ancira Automotive Group, AXA Equitable, Prost Marketing Inc., SBS Construction Corporate Partners: Frost, Lawrence L. Garcia and Associates, The Athlete's Foot/1604 Store, Tesoro Corporation, Tri-Sition Area, Wordyisms

Corporate Teams: Capital Group Companies, Joeris General Contractors, KCI, Lambda Chi Alpha Fraternity, Law Office of Patrick Filyk, Liberty Mutual, Roger Soler's Sports, RVK Architects, The Sabinal Group, San Antonio Express-News, San Antonio Police, San Antonio Credit Union, Save Direct RX, Security Service Federal Credit Union, Southwest Business Corporation/Employee Benefits Consulting, Time Warner Cable, Valero Energy Corporation

Food and Beverage Sponsors: Alamo Café, Farley Sathers Candy, Great Harvest Bread Company, H-E-B, Pepsi, Pure Party Ice, Oak Farms Dairy, OrderUp!, Starbuck's, Whole Foods Media Sponsors: Clear Channel/Mix 96.1, San Antonio Express-News Goodies, Gift Certificates & Door Prizes: Academy Sports & Outdoors, Ancira Automotive Group, Interiors by Terry, Run Wild Sports, Road ID, Stone Oak Pediatric Dentistry, Walker Advertising, Wordyisms

Participants: Omar Hernandez UTSA Senior-Public Affairs Officer, KABB Reporter Monica Taylor, KENS -5 Reporter Sarah Lucero, NIX Health Care table Daniela Gomez, Annette Burns & Katherine Lozano, UTSA Photographer Mark McClendon, Liberty Mutual Corp. runner Amy Angis, SAPD Recruiting table Officer Castaneda & SAPD running team leader Officer Juan Mandujano, Olympian Liza Hunter Galvan, Family Running Team Hunter Galvan, Mix 96.1 DJ Jo Jo, UTSA LULAC Roadrunner Council Vivian Quintero & Chris Aguilar, UTSA Army ROTC Roadrunner Battalion.

Story & Photos by Diploma Dash '09 participant Cpt. Tony Mandujano, USAR-UTSA Roadrunner Battalion Alumni.