Students enrolled in the Graphic Design Fundamentals class, part of the CAPS program at Cedar Trails Exploration Center, had the opportunity to not only participate in a real-world learning project, but also see their work in action at a local annual charity event: The Jared Coones Memorial Pumpkin 5K Run/Walk.
In mid-September, event organizers contacted Tim Mispagel, teacher and administrator of CTEC CAPS, seeking assistance on a few graphic design projects needed for the race on October 14. Tom Coones, lead organizer and father of Jared Coones, then met with students at CTEC to ask for help with two distinct projects: redesigning the event map for the annual fundraiser and helping print the drawstring bags used by volunteers.
CAPS students broke into collaborative teams to tackle both projects. One group used imagery from a previous event to create a 2 x 4-foot event map. The map was printed in-house at CTEC and then adhered to a corrugated plastic board to be displayed during the memorial run. Another group of students were tasked with preparing the graphic file of the event’s logo to be printed on the memorial bags for the event. Once the file was ready, sheets of the logo were ordered, and students took turns printing the 100 bags needed using a heat press.
Four graphic design students who helped with these projects volunteered at the 5K on October 14. Juniors Sophia Boresow, Ella Deane and Andrew Dondzilla from De Soto High School, along with Vincent Sauro from Mill Valley High School, all came together to serve as volunteers at the annual event.
The Jared Coones Memorial Pumpkin 5K Run/Walk was established to honor the life of Jared Coones who passed away at ten years old after a courageous battle with leukemia in 1998. Now in its 25th year, the memorial run has raised over a million dollars in funds for cancer research and numerous organizations that support cancer patients and their families. https://www.pumpkinrunwalk.org/
