Forest Hills 5K

 

We are thrilled to announce the 2025 FH5K ambassadors. These students, staff, parents, alumni and community members strongly believe in the mission of the Forest Hills Foundation for Education. They are excited to share their story with you and hope to motivate and inspire you to join them at the FH5K and in raising money for all students. Be sure to follow them on their social media pages during their journey! 

 

Interested in becoming a FH5K Race Ambassador? Contact Jen Schrager here. 

 

Sophie Straley | Anderson senior

"My name is Sophie Straley and I’m a senior at Anderson High School and I support the FH5K because the impact it has on the district doesn’t go unnoticed. The FHFE provides wellness in physical and mental health which is so critical for students of all ages. I personally struggle with my mental health and I’ve absolutely felt the impact of what the FHFE has done in my time in Forest Hills. The FHFE positively impacts every student and ultimately the whole community!"    

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Ben Hartong | Anderson senior

"I am excited to serve as a race ambassador for my third year because of the FHFE’s continuous support of student growth and opportunity. I have been greatly impacted by the Foundation’s efforts, benefitting from grant-funded resources within Anderson’s performing arts programs. The 5K is one of my favorite events of the year because we get to celebrate all the amazing things about our community!" (https://www.bendyourear.us)

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Mckenna Eatmon | Turpin sophomore

"Hi! My name is Mckenna Eatmon and I am a sophomore at Turpin High School! I found a big community within the Forest Hills Community! I played soccer in the fall and I am currently in Lacrosse season. I found a sense of belonging here at Turpin that led me to becoming an ambassador of the FH5K. From the greeting and smiles I get to the strong sense of community, it is safe to say I love Forest Hills! Join the community on May 10th! I plan to run the entire race while meeting new people, catching up with old friends, and supporting my community!" 

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Megan Wright | Ayer teacher

"Hi! My name is Megan Wright and I teach Kindergarten at Ayer Elementary. This is my first year as a FH5K Ambassador and I felt inspired to be an ambassador because I believe in prioritizing health and setting a positive example for both my students and my son, Aidan. Living an active lifestyle is important not only for physical well-being but also for mental clarity and overall happiness. As a teacher, I know that students look up to the adults in their lives, and I want to inspire them to see fitness as a fun and rewarding part of life. By participating in this event, I can demonstrate the value of perseverance, goal-setting, and self-care. Additionally, as a parent, I want Aidan to grow up understanding the importance of staying active and making healthy choices. Serving as an ambassador would allow me to promote a message that I truly believe in - one that encourages our school community to come together in support of health, wellness, and positive habits! All funds raised from the FH5K go to the Forest Hills Foundation for Education. The FHFE is incredibly supportive of students, teachers, and the entire Forest Hills community. Join me for the Forest Hills 5K!" X: @MrsWright123

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Sherwood Office Team

"Hello from the Sherwood Office Team, where every day is a walk in the park! We have Dan Hamilton, Principal, Trevor Collinsworth, Assistant Principal, Mary Mitchell, Administrative Assistant, and Erin Palin, Health Aide! We wanted to represent Sherwood and the Forest Hills community as Race Ambassadors for the 5K! This is an amazing event for the community and we are forever grateful to the Foundation for supporting our renovations of the Reset Room at Sherwood and providing access for students to compete in our School Spelling Bee! Our energetic office team will create fun, motivational videos to inspire participation in the upcoming race. As champions of our "Game On" challenge, we'll showcase our playful approach to fitness while encouraging everyone to join this exciting event. I can’t promise that you will be chased by any dinosaurs on the route, but best believe it will be a thrilling adventure participating in this event and supporting the community as a whole!"

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Leslie Harback | FHSD alumna & Summit teacher 

"I am a proud alum of Anderson, Nagel, and Maddux, and I am now a 5th grade ELA teacher at Summit Elementary. I also have the privilege of coaching the Summit Running Club! I chose to become an FH5K Ambassador because I love FHSD and believe in promoting a healthy lifestyle. Training with Summit students and sharing my love for running is incredibly rewarding. Encouraging kids to set goals and stay active is so important. Both Running Club and the FH5K help foster that mindset. My favorite part of the 5K is watching my runners cross the finish line and seeing how proud they are of themselves! It’s such a fantastic opportunity for our students and the entire community." Follow me on Twitter: @LeslieHarback

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Alexa Inman | Turpin sophomore

"My name is Alexa Inman and I'm a sophomore at Turpin High School! I'm incredibly excited to become a first-year ambassador for the FH5K and as a proud member of the Forest Hills community, I can't wait to represent my school and support everyone participating in the event. Being an ambassador is very important to me because I believe in everyone coming together through fitness and fun. This 5K isn't just about running—it's about building connections, celebrating health, and showing our community what we can accomplish when we all support each other. Join me at the FH5K and let's make it an unforgettable experience!" Instagram: @alexai513

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Charles Ogdan | Central Office / Director of Secondary Teaching and Learning

"Hello, my name is Charles Ogdan and I am the Director of Secondary Teaching & Learning with the FHSD. I am excited to be a 5K ambassador because I have a passion for student connections and education. Through education we all grow and prosper. The FHFE has done so many amazing things for our school district, the least I can do is promote such a great organization. I look forward to assisting in any way I can."

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Michelle Olix | Ayer teacher

"Hi! My name is Michelle Olix and this is my 2nd year as a FH5K Race Ambassador. I work at Ayer Elementary as a 4th grade teacher. I choose to run each year because the FH5K a great way for the community to come together for a great cause! I feel so accomplished after I run each year! This will be my 14th FH5K. To stay active, I also like to play volleyball and tennis. Recently I have been learning to play pickleball with other Ayer teachers after school! Each year, my 3rd grade & Kindergarten sons and I train for the 5K together. (They are much faster than me!) The money raised from the 5K goes directly to the Forest Hills Foundation for Education. The FHFE helps support our FHSD students and teachers! I am especially grateful for their grant support, such as our Calm Spaces at Ayer. These spaces were fully funded by a grant from FHFE! They help students get back to the “learning zone” to quickly refocus on learning. Please join my family and I as we run the Forest Hills 5K on May 10, 2025. Let’s go!"

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Savannah Briley | Maddux teacher

"Hi! My name is Savannah Briley, and I am the 6th grade science teacher at Maddux Elementary! I’m so excited to be an ambassador for this year’s Forest Hills 5K! I’ve had the pleasure of teaching at Maddux Elementary for the past 3 years, and it’s been such an amazing experience being part of this community. One of the things I love most about my job is getting to build strong, positive relationships with my students. Because I am a 6th grade teacher I don't get to know a lot of the students until they are about to leave Maddux. By coaching “Maddux Runs” I have the opportunity to get to know more students in our building before I have them as a 6th grader. I also love being outside and helping kids stay active! The FH5K helps support so many amazing opportunities in our district! I’ve set up a fundraising page, and I’d love your support! Every donation, no matter how big or small, helps make a difference! Thank you so much for your support & go Mustangs!"

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Jean Bode | Wilson counselor

"Time to Sparkle!!! I am a proud parent of 3 AHS/NMS/Maddux Alumni, former Sherwood teacher, and current Wilson school counselor. I chose to become an FH5K Ambassador because some of my best memories of FHSD have happened at the 5Ks, I LOVE seeing ALL community members at one celebration! My favorite part is cheering for all the kiddos working hard, walking, running, and even skipping. I plan to walk again this year (I really only run if someone is chasing me!) Wildcats come join me!"

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Debbie Nimmo | Turpin teacher

"I am a proud mom of 3 FHSD Grads, Taylor (2015), Claire (2018) and Scottie (2022) and have lived in the district for the last 23 years with my husband, Scott, who is also a FHSD Grad! I have been an educator in the district for 10 years and am currently a Health teacher and Sources of Strength Advisor at Turpin. I am excited to be an Ambassador again this year to support the efforts of our amazing FHFE and the work that they do to support our students every day. I’m also back as an Ambassador because I love the RACE DAY VIBE! I have been attending this event with my family since our kids were at Wilson. Year after year, there is so much excitement and positive energy as our entire community comes together to connect, have fun and support each other in our wellness. Let’s Goooo! Grab your friends and family and come on out and join us on May 10th!"

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Alice Trickey | FHSD parent

"Hi, I’m Alice! As a parent of two kids in FHSD, our family has participated in this race for the past three years, and we look forward to it every time. I’m thrilled to be a race ambassador because this event is more than just a run—it’s a celebration of community, energy, and encouragement. The Anderson community truly makes it special, from the enthusiastic participants and spectators to the supportive vendors and local businesses. Being active with my kids in a way that benefits both their physical and mental well-being is something we’ll always cherish. I can't wait for another incredible year and the opportunity to promote the Forest Hills Foundation!"

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Gracie Helbig | Anderson freshman

"Hi, my name is Gracie Helbig! I am currently a 9th grader at Anderson High School! I ran cross country in the fall and am currently running track. A little about me is that I love being active and spending time in the great outdoors! I love running, hiking, roller skating, rock climbing, and surfing!! I love having fun and hanging out with my friends and family! I also love to organize, read, go to Starbucks, go shopping, and go to church! My dream is to run for a D1 college (Go Wolfpack and Go Gators)!! Another thing about me is that I’m a Chicknlegs Ambassador this year. If you don’t know what Chicknlegs is, they are really fun running shorts! This year I have been loving taking German and cooking classes! I chose to be a returning FH5K ambassador because I love supporting the community and it was such a great experience the past 2 years!!"

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McKenna Johnson | Turpin junior

"Hi! My name is McKenna Johnson, I am a Junior at Turpin High School and now a FH5K ambassador. I am really excited for this opportunity and hope to bring more people to this event. I love how our community has a fun event that not only brings people together but emphasizes the importance of physical health. I, myself, am a runner and enjoy all of the benefits running has brought to me and I hope to share that with the rest of the community."

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Katie Ziegler  |  Turpin Alumna / FHSD Parent / FHFE Board Member

"Hi! My name is Katie, I’m a 2004 THS graduate, parent of three FHSD students - 2 at Anderson and 1 at Summit, and a Forest Hills Foundation for Education Board Member. This is my first year as a FH5K Ambassador but the race is not new to our family! My oldest son and I have run it together every year since he did Running Club at Summit! He’s graduating from Anderson this year! It’s become a family tradition and a way to kickoff his birthday weekend and Mother’s Day! I chose to become an ambassador this year because the mental and physical benefits of running are one of my favorite things and I love the Forest Hills School District and everything this race embodies in our community! It is such a fun day of community, connection, and fun and raises important funds to help support the incredible work the FHFE does for all of our students! Training Plan: mix of weekly runs with my Cincinnati Eastside Running Group (CERG) fam and strength training workouts. Training Song: My playlist is all over the place but “Run the World (Girls)” by Beyoncé is one of my favorite hype songs." Follow me on Instagram: @katiedziegler 

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