There are few moments more powerful than watching a child cross a finish line not because they were the fastest, but because they kept going. On Saturday, May 17, the School District of Lancaster proudly joined more than a thousand girls, families, coaches, and community members at the annual Girls on the Run 5K, celebrating growth, confidence, and the courage to try.
For our students, this 5K celebrates everything they’ve worked toward in the 10-week program: setting goals, supporting one another, practicing self-respect, and showing up on the track and in their lives. This season, 1,170 girls laced up their shoes and learned that strength comes in many forms. Sometimes it looks like running. Sometimes it looks like cheering on a teammate. And sometimes it simply means believing in yourself, even when it’s hard.
At SDoL, we believe learning doesn’t stop at the classroom door. It happens when students are encouraged to take risks, try something new, and see what they’re capable of. Programs like Girls on the Run align deeply with our values of equity, community, and whole-child development. Today’s 5K was a reminder that our students are more than test scores or report cards, they are leaders in the making, with the power to shape the world around them.
We’re grateful to Jen West, Executive Director of Girls on the Run Lancaster-Lebanon, and the incredible volunteers and coaches who make this possible. Your commitment to empowering girls has created ripples far beyond today’s event.
To the girls who ran today: We’re proud of you not just for finishing the race, but for showing us what it means to believe in yourself. Keep setting goals. Keep showing up. The world needs your voice, your strength, and your spirit.
And to our community: Thank you for cheering from the sidelines. Your support matters more than you know. Because when a girl discovers her own power, on a running path, in a classroom, or anywhere else, there’s no telling how far she’ll go.
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For more photos, visit us on Facebook. They’re always looking for volunteers and coaches! For more information and to get involved, click here.