Pi equals running with purpose for MCCTC
By SHAIYLA B. HAKEEM
CANFIELD
Runners were decorated with mud splatter as they trotted on trails through the woods located behind the Mahoning County Career and Technical Center on North Palmyra Road.
The Academy of the Arts at MCCTC had its first Pi Day Trail Run Challenge, which began at 10 a.m. Saturday on the school’s campus. The 3.14-mile run spanned the paved parking lot through muddy and grassy terrain trails. Proceeds from the run – it was $25 to register – will be used to benefit the Rescue Mission of the Mahoning Valley.
Lisa Argiro, faculty member with MCCTC Academy of the Arts, said this was a student-led event and was decided upon by a student advisory committee that represented cosmetology, culinary arts and the creative arts and design labs.
They were given the task of deciding on a project that would positively impact the community, Argiro said. The students chose to not only offer food donations to a nonprofit shelter, but also their personal time and skills.
“They wanted to be able to give something to the world that supports them,” Argiro explained, “This gives them an opportunity to use their skill sets to help the community.”
Proceeds from the Pi run will be used to purchase food items to be prepared and served to individuals by MCCTC students at the mission on Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard in Youngstown. They will also be providing haircuts and aid with resume building for people staying at the mission.
Crystal Eckman, mission ambassador, said without community involvement the mission would not be where it is today. She’s grateful for MCCTC students choosing to help, not just monetarily, but with their expertise.
“They could have chosen to support anything, but they chose us,” Eckman said, “This type of giving utilizes the kids’ talents and is teaching them to give back with what they have.”
The fundraiser spawned from the idea of community involvement while keeping academia in mind.
All students, regardless of the discipline they are enrolled in, share the classes of math, science, social studies and English.
Pi is a mathematical term used to define the ratio of the circumference of any circle divided by its diameter, which produces an infinite decimal, commonly referred to at 3.14.
Students tied this mathematical equation in with their fundraiser to show the importance of math, as well as other general education classes.
Seventy runners participated, but two distinguished themselves from the rest. The top overall male and female winners were given first-place medals handcrafted by students in MCCTC’s advance manufacturing class.
The first runner to cross the finish line was freshman Josh Pittman from Crestview High School in Columbiana with a time of 24:09. Pittman said he felt great about taking first place and was looking forward to getting a pie.
Finishing only two seconds behind him at 24:11 was the top female runner, and overall second-place runner, MCCTC’s math teacher Monica Ciarniello of Struthers.
This is her first year teaching math at the school. Due to her mathematical and running background, she said she presented the idea of a “Pi” run, but says she cannot take credit because it was a complete group effort.
MCCTC’s culinary department baked 130 pies, mixed between lemon and chocolate flavors, for run participants and guests to eat after the event. Participants also were offered other refreshments such as coffee, water and bananas, as well as students’ services of massages and hair braiding.
The school plans to make this an annual event.