Steamboat Pilot & Today

The Steamboat Springs Running Series is encouraging its youngest racers to support the continuing education of Routt County high school seniors by racing Sunday.

The First Impressions Tot Trot is open to runners or walkers ages 8 and younger who want to help the next generation of educators.

Each year, the Tot Trot theme is, "I cent a student to college," and the young runners in Sunday's race are asked to bring all the pennies they can to serve as their registration fees.

The race begins at 10:45 a.m. and consists of one lap, on the sidewalk, around the Steamboat Pilot & Today building off U.S. Highway 40 on the west end of Steamboat.

"It doesn't matter the money they bring," said Renee Don-ahue, early child-hood manager for First Impressions of Routt County. "They all get a little bib, a ribbon at the end and other miscellaneous prizes."

Registration starts at 8:30 a.m. The First Impressions Tot Trot is held in conjunction with the Pilot's annual Run for Literacy, a 7-mile or 5K race that benefits the Newspapers in Education program.

A trophy is handed out to the school with the most representatives at Sunday's Tot Trot race. Soda Creek Elementary School won the trophy in 2004.

Last year, the Tot Trot raised $750, which was awarded to Soroco High School graduate Nichole Wilson. She is in college with plans to major in elementary education.

Every year, Donahue and a First Impressions selection committee sift through scholarship applications before selecting the "I cent a student to college" scholarship winner from Routt County.

"We get lots of applications, so we get to have a committee to try and choose a student who has a need and has interest in children," Donahue said. "It's one of those nice things we do."

First Impressions of Routt County is a community board working for children and families to help children develop and prepare for school through early childhood programs.

-- To reach Melinda Mawdsley call 871-4208 or e-mail mmawdsley@steamboatpilot.com