ASHLAND – Ashland University and Ashland Main Street are partnering to connect the community and the campus, with a focus on health and wellness, during a special event Friday.
“AU to Main Street” will kick off with AU faculty, staff and students meeting in front of the AU Rec Center at 4 p.m. and being led by Tuffy, the AU mascot, in the half-mile walk from campus to Ashland’s Main Street.
“We want everyone to see what the city of Ashland has to offer,” said Dr. Deborah Sullivan, director of Campus Wellness at Ashland University.
Once downtown, participants are encouraged to visit the many shops and businesses located in downtown. Anyone who gets a passport stamped by five or more businesses will be entered to win a prize.
The walk was inspired by a conversation Sullivan had with a business owner on Claremont Avenue, who said many AU students drive to the business, even though it is just a short walk from campus.
Sullivan’s job includes finding ways to improve health and wellness for students, faculty and staff. She has initiated a variety of efforts to make the AU community more aware of their physical activity and to encourage them to be more active.
AU President Carlos Campo has also made a concerted effort to build bridges between the university and the community, including creating a Community Engagement Task Force.
“What better way to bring together wellness and community engagement than with this walk,” Sullivan said.
Sullivan said all faculty, staff and students are encouraged to participate on Friday, even if they can’t meet at 4 p.m. Tuffy will lead the walkers through the neighborhood between campus and downtown, rather than following Claremont Avenue.
Sandra Tunnell, executive director of Ashland Main Street, helped organize the event with Sullivan and Mark Burgess of the City of Ashland. Tunnell said many downtown stores are staying open longer than normal for the event, which runs until 6 p.m.
