Libraries staff walks the walk

How many steps did you do today? It was one of the biggest questions of 2020, and Libraries staff had a good answer for it by participating in the university’s fourth annual Step to It Movement Challenge. 

Between Sept. 28 and Nov. 8, a total of 28 Libraries employees formed teams to compete against one another for maximum step counts per day, per week, and for the whole six-week challenge. Participants used pedometers to track the number of steps they walked or they converted just about any physical fitness activity to steps by tracking the time spent on that activity. 

The “A&DHoly Walkamolies” team was so serious about the Challenge this year that they created their own logo (thanks to Gabriel Israel). Together, these Acquisitions & Discovery Walkamoles walked a total of 4,922,271 steps or the equivalent of 2188 miles. That’s like walking to Longview, TX (not quite to Dallas) and back. Team members: Lisa DePinto (team captain), Ashley Evans Bandy, Beth Ashmore, David Serxner, Dharini Baskaran, Gabriel Israel, Liz Bell, Lynn Whitenberger, Maria Collins, Rob Loomis, Ruth Gagliardi, Terri Chance, and Tessa Minchew.

The “BS Walks” team included mostly Building Services staff (what did you think that BS stood for?) and completed 4,020,391 steps, or approximately 1787 miles. That’s like walking to Milwaukee, WI and back. Team members: Katelan Haynes (team captain), Andrew Barefoot, Glen Privette, Gwen Emery, Jamie Chapman, Jordan Booth, Maurice Lee, Robert LaSane, Tom Derosier, and Travis Tyo.

With only five members from Human Resources and Administration, the “Heart & Sole” team really lived up to their name by walking a total of 3,042,157 steps, or the equivalent of 1352 miles. That’s like walking to Jackson, TN—almost to Memphis—and back. They also made it into the top five teams for weekly step averages twice during the Challenge. Team members: Laura Blessing (team captain), Jennifer Garrett, Julia Reynolds, Nellie Maurer, and Stacey Arrington.

That makes a grand total of 11,984,819 steps walked during the six-week challenge by Libraries employees. That’s approximately 5327 miles, or nearly the entire length of the Great Wall of China!

Thanks so much to all who took part in the Challenge. Let’s get even more teams involved next year!