Doane Relay takes first in division, third in nation

Doane College is already receiving awards for Relay for Life, and it's not even January.

Members of Doane Relay's executive committee recently traveled to Dallas to accept awards earned from last year's event and begin planning for this year.

Last year over $52,000 was raised, which placed Doane's Relay for Life event first in the High Plains division and third in the nation for colleges of similar sizes.

Senior Kari Shanahan was one committee member who attended the ceremony in Dallas this September.

"The ceremony in Dallas wasn't just awards," Shanahan said. "It was also a place for everyone who are involved with relay to get together and talk about ideas and how to improve individual events and how to meet goals."

Shanahan said she had never heard of Relay for Life until she came to Doane. She said it's cool to see people get excited about something and work together for a good cause.

Last year's co-chair, senior Clayton Kovanda, also attended the event in Dallas, and said he benefitted from the seminars provided.

"The seminar we went to was the mid-west division," Kovanda said. "We were divided into college relays and people shared ideas and thoughts on how to improve our relays this year."

Kovanda has been involved with Relay for Life before, and also attended the Dallas event last year.

"I went to the ceremony last year and not a lot changed from last year to this year," Kovanda said.

After returning from Dallas, executive members were anxious to get started on this year's event, and are already conducting weekly meetings. There will be a meeting October 20th for those who want to join the Relay Committee.

"Right now we are just doing some general background planning," Shanahan said. "After homecoming it's mostly just planning for the committee kick off meeting and getting everyone excited about getting started again."

Kovanda feels the atmosphere at Doane has contributed to Relay's success, and it looking forward to continuing the tradition.

"Our past adviser Megan Marriott told me it's so different there (in Omaha)," Kovanda said. "She also told me that the respect and support from the staff and students at Doane was better when it came to Relay."