Indiana University of Pennsylvania’s College of Health Sciences’ second annual “Run for the Health of It” fundraising 5K race/one-mile walk will be held September 14, with free registration offered to all IUP students.
IUP alumnus Gene Ulishney, a 1975 IUP health and physical education graduate, donated $5,000 to the program to cover the $25 registration fee for any IUP student. Ulishney, originally from Latrobe, now makes his home in Parkland, Florida.
“Mr. Ulishney’s generosity allows up to 500 IUP students to participate in the race with no registration cost,” IUP Vice President for University Advancement Jennifer DeAngelo said. “Not only did he want his gift to support the College of Health Sciences, its programs, and its students, he has shared that he wants his donation to raise awareness of the importance of healthy behaviors and to encourage a healthy activity for our students by removing any financial barriers,” she said.
Run for the Health of It was developed by the College of Health Sciences faculty and staff, in collaboration with colleagues throughout the university, alumni, and friends, to raise funds for scholarships, research, and innovative programs in the College.
“This is an outstanding initiative, and I am proud to support the university and IUP students who want to be part of the Run for the Health of It, as well as the important work and programs of the new College of Health Sciences,” Ulishney said. “I have always valued physical fitness, including during my time as a student at IUP, and appreciate and applaud IUP’s ongoing commitment to student success, which includes health and wellness,” he said. Ulishney was first seed on the IUP varsity tennis team during his four years as a student at IUP.
Each year, proceeds from the event benefit a different need in the College of Health Sciences. For this second annual event in September, the race will support the development of a Food as Medicine program that addresses health and nutrition needs in rural communities.
“The Food as Medicine initiative aims to integrate food-based interventions into healthcare by expanding access to nutritious foods, offering culturally responsive education, and fostering partnerships between healthcare providers and local food systems,” IUP Interim Dean of the College of Health Sciences Hilliary Creely said. “Additionally, the program will create hands-on learning and research opportunities for students in the College of Health Sciences, preparing the next generation of healthcare professionals to incorporate nutrition into holistic patient care.
The first event, held in April, focused on support for students in IUP’s psychology doctoral program and the David LaPorte Memorial Fund; there were 57 participants, and registration fees and donations totaled more than $9,500. Race revenues and donations resulted in the fund being fully endowed.
LaPorte was a neuropsychologist who taught at IUP from 1995 until his passing in May 2022. He also worked privately as a clinical psychologist who focused on innovative initiatives to bring mental health resources to rural communities.
At IUP, in addition to his teaching responsibilities, he was supervisor of the Assessment Clinic in the Center for Applied Psychology, was director of clinical training for the Clinical Psychology doctoral program, and was chair of the IUP University Senate.
“The Dave LaPorte Memorial Fund was created in Dave’s honor to support our clinical psychology students’ training in a variety of ways, such as scholarships, research support, professional development, or travel to conferences,” Interim Associate Dean of the College of Health Sciences Lisa Newell said. “Dave loved being outdoors and was a strong advocate for community-building events; this event was the perfect tribute to him. It was an incredible honor to facilitate the inaugural 5K, to pay tribute to the dedication of Dave to our students, and to further support the mental health needs of our community,” she said.
“We had a small committee of faculty, staff, and alumni who worked to develop the event, but we couldn’t have done it without the work of two clinical psychology graduate students throughout the year and a great group of communications media students on the day of the event,” Newell said.
The September 14 event begins at 10:00 a.m. at IUP’s Zink Hall, and the race course is on IUP’s Indiana campus. All ages and fitness levels are welcome.
Event T-shirts are guaranteed for all participants registered by August 31, and the registration can be completed online. Persons can also email chs-5k@iup.edu for more information. IUP students interested in registering for the event should complete this form.
IUP’s College of Health Sciences includes the departments of Allied and Public Health, Nursing, and Psychology.
Since its founding in 1875, IUP has evolved from a teacher-training institution into a doctoral research university recognized for its commitment to student success and achievement. As IUP celebrates its 150th anniversary in 2025, the university honors a legacy of educational excellence while looking toward a future of innovation, leadership in healthcare education, and public service.