Danielle Lewis joins 48 Now to share more about the 5th Annual HBCU STEM Education Run

The CEO of the HBCU STEM Education Run Danielle Lewis joined 48 Now to share more about the upcoming 5th Annual HBCU STEM Education Run.

The HBCU STEM Education Run is a run that strives to raise funds and awareness through fitness. Each year, funds are dedicated to an HBCU. The 5K run supports their mission to educate, empower, and elevate HBCU STEM students through scholarships and career resources.

Lewis went to school at Oakwood University and the University of Alabama in Huntsville. She studied math and mechanical engineering. While she was in school as a STEM student, she said she was inspired by her mentor to be proactive about scholarships.

“I was able to exit that five-year program with no student loan debt, and because of that, every time I was applying for scholarships, I would put it in my essays that I wanted to be able to do that for the next person, so that’s why I really started the HBCU STEM Education Run,” Lewis said.

Lewis is an active runner in her personal life, so she said she wanted to create a running event to support both of her passions of running and supporting HBCU STEM students.

For those who participate in the run, you will receive an official premium tech T-shirt, a finisher medal, and a swag bag.

For people running virtually, you will still receive everything in-person participants receive from the swag bag, and they can choose to run wherever they are anytime in the month of April and submit photos of their run and victory photos to the HBCU STEM Education Run.

“It’s an opportunity to be included no matter where you are,” Lewis said.

Lewis said people can run 1 mile, 5K, or even a half marathon, and people can also walk instead of run.

There will be different STEM activities available at the event as well. Lewis said, aside from the running and walking aspect of the event, this will also be a networking opportunity and a community event. There will also be music and lawn games, so there will be something there for everyone of all ages

“It’s going to be a fun time just to be there in person and hang out with us. So whether you run or not, or whether you walk or not, it’s still going to be fun, and if anyone were to be discouraged about the fitness side of things, I would just encourage you to be out there and soak up the sun,” Lewis said.

“It’s something energizing about being outside and letting the sun hit your face…even if you just want to come and enjoy and come out and have a good time, you are still definitely welcome to be out there with us.”

To hear more about the HBCU STEM Education Run and more about Danielle Lewis’ mission for HBCU students in STEM the full 48 Now interview can be viewed at the top of this page.

The in-person HBCU STEM Education Run will be held at Big Spring Park on Sunday, April 6th at 8:30 a.m.