The National Pingtung University of Science and Technology (NPUST) is celebrating its 101st Anniversary this year (2025) with a series of sporting events and celebratory activities. The Sports Week festivities, which began on November 24 at 3:20 PM with the Campus Run and Invitational Meet, will continue through to November 28 for what will be a grand showcasing of the cohesion and youthful vitality of the NPUST family.
This year’s Campus Run attracted around 800 participants for the student category and about 300 in the faculty and staff category. An additional 200 staff members dedicated themselves to planning and assisting with the event, bringing the total participation to over 1,300 people and making it the largest-ever running event in the university’s history.
A RUN THROUGH THE BEAUTIFUL CAMPUS
President Chin-Lung Chang stated, “NPUST possesses the largest and most ecologically beautiful campus in the country. I hope all students, faculty, and staff will make good use of this land and work up a sweat together during this anniversary celebration running event. I also hope that it will encourage the cultivation of habitual exercise and that everyone can enjoy good health, safety, and vitality.”
Before the official start, the participants were led in a professional warm-up session by an alumna of the master’s program at the Department of Recreational Sport and Health Promotion, Eva Chen, who is currently an instructor at the Physical Education Office of National Kaohsiung University of Science and Technology. Following the warm-up, children from the NPUST Affiliated Kindergarten opened the event with a charming and amusing “Pacing Performance Race,” setting a lively and heartwarming mood for the run.
COMPETITION AND GRAND PRIZES
The competition featured several categories, including Student Men’s and Women’s groups, and Faculty/Staff Men’s and Women’s Group A and Group B. Two routes were planned: 5 kilometers and 3 kilometers. The race utilized a chip timing system to ensure professional standards and fairness.
The course started at the Mong Shang Gymnasium, passing by several iconic campus landmarks, including the Botanical Garden, the Smart Agriculture Center, the Forage Grass area, and the Lover’s Slope. The meticulously designed route highlighted the campus’s lush greenery and cultural ambiance, allowing runners to feel the spirit and honor of the university’s century-long legacy as they ran.
After the race, an eagerly anticipated prize drawing was held in addition to the awards ceremony for each group. Runners who completed the race within the designated time received one raffle ticket. The prizes, valued at a record high of nearly NT$180,000, included NPUST Bookstore gift certificates, 7-11 merchandise cards, PX Mart gift certificates, Carrefour gift certificates, Pacific Department Store gift certificates, and the most anticipated grand prizes of the year: the latest iPhone 17 and iPhone Air.
The Campus Run and Invitational Meet made for an exciting start to NPUST’s 101st Anniversary celebrations and symbolized a fresh beginning for all faculty and students as they move toward a new century for the school waiting ahead.
