The third annual Zumbathon will be held in the Royce and Pam Money Recreation and Wellness Center on Saturday. SAND is an organization for nutrition majors that provides a place for them to form community with fellow nutrition majors and spread health awareness.
Taylor Newhouse, senior nutrition major from Montgomery, is the president of SAND.
“We started it as a way to raise funds so that SAND can have money for various activities as a group and go to the different conferences that happen throughout the year where we learn more about our profession, network with Dietetic Internship Directors and future employers, and get up to date with the new research that is going on,” Newhouse said.
In the past, the Student Academy of Nutrition & Dietetics has hosted different events, such as a 5K and a pet-a-thon at Rose Beb Park, to raise the money. Now, SAND is hosting the Hawaiian-themed Zumbathon to raise money.
“Like all student organizations, we want our group to continue for years to come and we need a strong base of members for it to continue,” Newhouse said. “It is important, like in all aspects of life, to be an active member of your community and to take on a leadership position when able.”
The Zumbathon is an opportunity for SAND to reach out to the ACU community and inform students about health as well as an opportunity for students to have fun getting fit.
“We put on the Zumbathon as a way to promote fun activity and use it as an opportunity to inform individuals about nutrition,” Newhouse said.
There will be a costume contest and a raffle during the event.
Newhouse said it’s a fun way to celebrate that Thanksgiving break and gives students the opportunity to be silly and to dress up with their friends.
Ruthie Swedlund, a Zumba instructor, will be one of the instructors along with Tiffany Sheffield, junior communications major from Argyle.
“We will be playing a variety of music, like Christian music, salsa and a lot of other different things,” Swedlund said. “And since it’s Hawaiian themed this year, we’re going to throw in some Hawaiian songs and dances.”
Swedlund had been involved with this year’s preparations for the Zumbathon and is said she is looking forward to the event.
“The Zumbathon is a fun way for students to come out and exercise and have fun doing it,” Swedlund said.
