In the Spotlight: Stern Center Alums Run in Mad Marathon

by Laurie Caswell-Burke

   From left to right: Alums Stephanie Hackett and Doug Rumsey pose with
   Board member Will Billings and Stern Center instructor Pam Billings at the 
   2013 Mad Marathon finish line.

In less than three weeks two Stern Center Alums will be among 1000 runners and walkers persevering up and down the magnificent hills and valleys of the Mad River Valley. Stephanie Hackett and Doug Rumsey are eager for other alums to join them on Sunday, July 6th for what is known as the “World’s Most Beautiful Marathon.” At least 30 additional runners and walkers are “running/walking for a cause” to support the Stern Center scholarship program. Every year the Stern Center offers over $130,000 in scholarship dollars to students who need services. 

Doug Rumsey returns for a second year traveling from Ft. Lauderdale, Florida where he works in advertising. He is excited to run in Vermont, his birthplace, where he grew up in the Burlington area. Training an average of 35 minutes a day, running on roads and on the beautiful Florida beaches, often with his dog Jake, he is ready for the Mad Marathon relay team. 

“The Stern Center has been my rock for over 35 years- it’s a place I call home. Running in this marathon is a small token of my way of giving back to an organization that has been my rock, a place that is always there for me,” he said. 

He is busy fundraising with an ambitious goal of raising $2,000. 

Stephanie Hackett is joining her older sister Sarah this year to run a half marathon. With a structured training schedule designed by Sarah, this sister team has been in training since early May. Stephanie shared that this is her first half marathon. Last year she cheered everyone on after scratching at the last minute due to a back injury. 

Hackett, a local barista at Village Wine and Coffee in Shelburne, is currently pursuing a Master’s Degree in Teaching English as a Second Language at St. Michael’s College. When not in school, training or working she finds time to tutor a local Nepalese family. 

Hackett shares,“ Education can be like running a marathon. The students find themselves running uphill, through pot holes and on dirt roads in order to cross the academic and marathon finish line.” 

For Stephanie this challenge allows her to feel like she is helping others to overcome personal challenges that they face at specific times in their lives. She understands what it feels like to get support when you need it. 

"Growing up I had struggled academically and was feeling very discouraged in the academic setting. The Stern Center taught me the tools I needed to succeed in the academic and work setting. With these tools I have become more confident in my ability to succeed. Through the years I never realized that I have not only been more confident in my abilities but also more proactive in recognizing the support I need in order to reach my fullest potential in and outside the classroom." 

As the Stern Center celebrates 30 years of helping all learners succeed, one of its greatest accomplishments is seeing alums like Stephanie and Doug give back to a place that had an impact on their lives. There is still time to join in the fun and anyone interested in participating should visit our website for more information.

Laurie Caswell Burke is a Major Gifts Specialist at the Stern Center. She is a writer and teacher. Skinny Dipping with Loons is her first book. She lives in Shelburne, VT.