22nd Annual SEASIDE SCHOOL™ Half Marathon & 5K Race Weekend Presented by SEASIDE® Raises $545K for Education
SEASIDE, FL. — [March 26, 2024] — The 22nd Annual SEASIDE SCHOOL™ Half Marathon & 5K Race Weekend presented by SEASIDE® concluded with resounding success, raising an impressive $545,000 in net proceeds to support the educational initiatives of THE SEASIDE SCHOOL™. Held over Presidents' Day weekend, February 16-18, 2024, in Seaside, FL, the event welcomed participants from across the nation, the United Kingdom, Finland, Andorra, and garnered support from the local community.
The funds raised from the Race Weekend directly benefit the academic and operational programming of both of THE SEASIDE SCHOOL™ campuses, SEASIDE NEIGHBORHOOD SCHOOL™ and Seacoast Collegiate High School, in partnership with THE SEASIDE SCHOOL FOUNDATION™. As one of Florida's pioneer public charter schools, THE SEASIDE SCHOOL™ stands as a beacon of educational excellence, consistently ranking as the #1 combination public charter school in the state. With over 20 consecutive years of achieving an "A" rating, and boasting top 1% rankings in math and science, THE SEASIDE SCHOOL™ continues to redefine academic achievement.
This year's Race Weekend witnessed a remarkable turnout, with 3,700 half marathon and 5K participants, along with over 12,000 race weekend guests converging upon beautiful Seaside, FL. The success of the event was made possible by the unwavering dedication of more than 500 volunteers and countless sponsors including new swag and merchandise sponsor, THE SEASIDE STYLE®, whose commitment ensured a seamless experience and further solidified the unwavering support of the SEASIDE® community.
Patrick McCarthy, President of THE SEASIDE SCHOOL FOUNDATION™, remarked, "The overwhelming success of the 22nd Annual SEASIDE SCHOOL™ Half Marathon & 5K Race Weekend underscores the unwavering commitment of our community towards supporting education. We are immensely grateful for the generosity of our sponsors, participants, and volunteers, whose dedication ensures the continued growth and success of our schools."
Teresa Horton, Executive Director of THE SEASIDE SCHOOL FOUNDATION™, echoed these sentiments, stating, "Race Weekend serves as a vital platform for fostering community engagement while raising crucial funds for our schools. The collective effort of everyone involved has a profound impact on the educational opportunities and programming we can provide to our students in the classroom and beyond."
Dr. Tom Miller, Executive Director of THE SEASIDE SCHOOL™, expressed gratitude for the community's support, saying, "The success of Race Weekend not only sustains our schools but also reaffirms our mission to provide a transformative educational experience to our students. We are deeply appreciative of the outpouring of support from our community and look forward to continuing our legacy of excellence.”
Race Weekend festivities commenced with the annual pre-party, Taste of the Race, where 18 local chefs showcased their culinary expertise. The event, presented by the Florida Restaurant & Lodging Association, Grayton Beer Company, SEASIDE®, and Driftwood Wine & Spirits, drew over 700 attendees and featured a live performance by The Molly Ringwalds. The Daytrader Tiki Bar & Restaurant won the coveted Chef’s Choice Award. The People’s Choice was awarded to Jackacuda’s Seafood & Sushi and the Judge’s Choice was awarded to Marrow Private Chefs.
The race results showcased remarkable achievements as Race Weekend concluded with the Half Marathon and 5K races. Jack Rodes, 23, of Roswell, GA, took home the top prize as the Overall Half Marathon Finisher and the Overall Half Marathon Male with an impressive time of 1:13:24. Katie Sherron, 42, of Tallahassee, FL, emerged as the Overall Half Marathon Female with a time of 1:20:56. Aidan McHugh, 17, from Alpharetta, GA, and Scarlett Griffin, 14, a 9th grade student at Seacoast Collegiate High School, from Santa Rosa Beach, FL, claimed the titles of Overall 5K Male and Female winners, respectively.
The Race Weekend festivities concluded with a lively finish line after-party featuring live music by THE SEASIDE SCHOOL™ Performance Band, complimentary beer by Grayton Beer Company, 30A Hard Seltzer, and delectable post-race fare catered by Great Southern Cafe.
For more information about the SEASIDE SCHOOL™ Race Weekend, please visit RunSeasideFL.com. For more information about THE SEASIDE SCHOOL™, please visit SeasideSchools.net.
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ABOUT THE SEASIDE SCHOOL™ HALF MARATHON + 5K
The SEASIDE SCHOOL™ Half Marathon + 5K is the annual charity race fundraiser that supports the SEASIDE SCHOOL FOUNDATION™ and encompasses an entire weekend of activities from the Taste of the Race culinary event as the official Race Weekend kick-off party to Race Day that welcomes thousands of runners. Participation and support of the annual fundraiser provides middle school and high school students in Walton County, Florida the opportunity to participate in unique learning experiences not typically found in public education. For more information on the SEASIDE SCHOOL™ Half Marathon + 5K, visit RunSeasideFL.com.
ABOUT THE SEASIDE SCHOOL™
THE SEASIDE SCHOOL™ - the oldest operating public charter school in Florida and comprised of SEASIDE NEIGHBORHOOD SCHOOL™ in Seaside, Florida and Seacoast Collegiate High School located on the nearby campus of Northwest Florida State College - was founded in 1996 with the simple goal of creating a school to address the need for a better middle school education in Walton County. Today, SEASIDE SCHOOL™ has nearly 440 students across the two school campuses and Northwest Florida State College serving grades 5th through 12th and was ranked in the top five of all public charter schools in the state of Florida for the 2021-2022 school year based on the Florida Department of Education School Grade Program. For more information, visit SeasideSchools.net.
PHOTOS: Click here for SEASIDE SCHOOL™ Race Weekend Photos by Shelly Swanger
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bobby@parkergenecreative.com
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