Race honors Eve Carson’s legacy, benefits scholarship

None of the University’s current undergraduate classes attended school with former Student Body President Eve Carson, who was murdered in March 2008.

But they still embrace her legacy.

Based on the number of registrants for this year’s Eve Carson Memorial 5K for Education — which will be held Nov. 3 — Carson’s legacy is stronger than ever.

Last year, 827 people preregistered, said Waverly Lynch, Pi Beta Phi sorority’s vice president for philanthropy.

Lynch, one of the main coordinators of the event, said Thursday that about 1,300 people have registered. The race coordinators expect at least 150 more to register at the race.

She and Wilson Orr, Phi Delta Theta fraternity philanthropy chairman and the other main coordinator, set a goal of 2,000 participants.

“We might not reach that based on the numbers so far, but we’re still really excited because we’ve exceeded numbers from last year,” Lynch said.

She said the increased participation is due to better publicity efforts and more emphasis on community involvement than in previous years.

Members of Pi Beta Phi and Phi Delta Theta have been Pit-sitting since early October, and they have also focused on churches, schools and businesses to draw support.

Orr said he focused on recruiting large student groups, targeting businesses who have consistently supported the event and motivating the chapter members to participate.

Lynch said about 170 women from Pi Beta Phi and 75 men from Phi Delta Theta volunteer annually.

Proceeds from the event will go toward the Eve Carson Memorial Scholarship and education nonprofits First Book and CEO 4 Teens.

Speakers at the event will include Chancellor Holden Thorp, former Chancellor James Moeser, Student Body President Will Leimenstoll and an Eve Carson Scholarship recipient. The a cappella group Cadence will also perform.

Although the race is in memory of Carson, Orr said this year everyone will also be thinking of the three UNC students who died this semester: Faith Hedgepeth, Trevor Dolan and David Shannon.

Pi Beta Phi and Phi Delta Theta are making ribbons to wear in memory of Shannon, Orr said. All the volunteers staffing the event will wear the ribbons, which will also be available for runners to wear, he said.

Orr said it’s easy to get caught up in the number of participants as a measure of success, but it’s more important to remember the purpose of the event.

“It’s not just another 5K race,” he said. “It really is integrated into the school.”

Junior Katie Reinberger, who is registered to run, said the event is meaningful to her because she’s from Carson’s hometown of Athens, Ga.

“She was such an amazing person, and she cared so much about this University, and education is so important — it’s something you can’t not support,” she said.

Contact the desk editor at university@dailytarheel.com.