When they took the first step back in August 2019, they had no idea just how far they’d go. But, by April 2020, the 91 staff and faculty members from 46 different departments on campus who participated in the fourth annual AEX Step Challenge had taken 132,788,730 steps, covering 66,394 miles โ€“ or the equivalent of 2,534 marathons, 2.67 walks around the Earth or 22 strolls across the U.S.

No matter how you break it down, it all adds up to something to celebrate! And that’s just what the CofC Steppers did at their annual AEX Step Challenge celebration last week.

“I’m so proud of each and every one of you,” Michelle Futrell โ€™92ย said during the celebration over Zoom. Futrell, the director of the Center for Academic Performance and Persistence and senior instructor of nutrition in the Department of Health and Human Performance, developed the Academic Experience (AEX) Step Challenge in the fall of 2016 as a healthy, fun, motivation-boosting activity for her colleagues within the Office for the Academic Experience. “I hope you’re all proud of yourselves, too!”

RELATED: Read more about the AEX Step Challenge.

Many CofC Steppers were acknowledged at the celebration, including Evie Nadel โ€“ executive director of community relations in the Office of the President and institutional ombudsperson, who took the most overall steps, a total of 4,859,107 โ€“ andย Franklin Czwazka, catalog manager in the Office of the Registrar, who was named the first place champion for taking a total of 3,292,023 steps and accumulating a total of 589 points in the weekly and monthly challenges.

“I’m grateful to everyone in the challenge for keeping me motivated,” says Czawaka, who is hoping to walk a virtual race or two this summer. “I have to step up my game now that we’re working remotely โ€“ I used to get 4,000 steps in just getting ready for work and getting the kids out the door!”

The Summer 2020 AEX Step Challenge began May 4, but faculty and staff may still join using this online registration form. Signing up is just the first step to finding out just how far you can go!