Deana Renwick has embraced the boarding school lifestyle over the past 6 years, teaching in both the middle and upper schools, coaching, and serving as a dorm parent in Cluett where she resides with her husband Evan. Additionally, she has participated in various community service initiatives on campus, the latest being a Breast Cancer 5K which took place in October.
“When Trinity-Pawling hosted Relay for Life, I volunteered and helped on the day of the event. I participated in a committee for MayDay, which helped inspire me to organize an event for Breast Cancer Awareness. Seeing some of the logistics involved in MayDay gave me the confidence I needed to go forward with my idea,” Renwick explains. “I have always enjoyed the sense of community that 5K races can create. I used to run in the Summer Sunset Series in my hometown of Canton, NY, and I was always amazed by the energy the runners would bring. I also know women who have been affected by breast cancer and I wanted to create a race to support this cause. I am so grateful and humbled by the response from the school and the community toward this cause that is so close to so many.”
In the planning stages, Renwick was drawn to the mission of the National Honor Society, particularly how they encourage students to excel in areas of scholarship, leadership, service, and character and hoped for them to sponsor/host the event. “Ms. Durkee, the NHS advisor, was very helpful through the whole process of selecting which organization to donate to, getting the boys involved with event announcements, t-shirt design, and race day duties. She and the NHS members truly embodied the values of the organization and helped to make the event a success,” Renwick says.
The 5K is the latest event held on campus aimed at engaging the surrounding community. “What has been exciting about this past year is that the School hosted two charitable events; a campus wide fundraiser, MayDay, which raised money for two local organizations; and a 5K Run/Walk for Breast Cancer Awareness. I am honored to be a part of these events and look forward to more in the future,” Renwick concludes.