• Testimonials

    WLA faculty are committed to graduate student mentorship and are eager to support student scholarship by offering valuable feedback and creating spaces for exchange and collaboration.
    Ho'esta Mo'e'hahne, 2018
    Owens Award recipient 2016

WLA Fundraiser

No Frontiers Place Run logo 2021

Our first virtual PlaceRun and fundraiser has come to an end. We are grateful to be supported by such generous participants and donors. We were able to raise $6,000! A HUGE THANK YOU TO ALL OF YOU!


And our participant winners are:

Fundraising: Sabine Barcatta

Best Place Documentation: Brady Harrison

Most Miles: Mike Lemon

Best PlaceDocu during 5K:
~ Jamie Crosswhite
~ Audrey Goodman


The “No Frontiers PlaceRun” connects you with fellow WLAers for some good exercise and fun activity while raising needed funds for the WLA. Regardless of your geographical location or your busy schedule, you can participate in this run, because it is virtual!

Enter through RunSignUp, establish your personal page, and you’re ready to go. 

We hope you’ll join the “challenge,” through which your sponsors will reward you (and the WLA) for your mileage efforts between September 19 and October 17. In order to raise funds for the WLA, click the “Become a Fundraiser” button during registration. Your sponsors will be able to follow your physical and fundraising progress.

Whether you complete this “challenge” or not, we invite all participants to run or walk the main 5K event on October 16 or 17 (your choice). We encourage participants to post lots of photos of significant places on their running routes, whether of literary, geographical, or aesthetic note. 

Prizes will be given for fundraising success, place-awesomeness, mileage, and other fun categories at the virtual WLA Award Ceremony on October 21 at 7 pm EST/6 CDT/5 pm MST/4 pm PST.

Sign up now at https://runsignup.com/Race/UT/Logan/NOFRONTIERSPlaceRun

In order to participate in the awards ceremony, please register at  http://tinyurl.com/wla2021awards. You must be registered for the awards ceremony to receive an invitation with a zoom link the day before the awards ceremony.

MORE DETAILS:

Included in your registration fee is a runner’s T-shirt. The gray version is a unisex shirt. The teal version is a slightly tailored women’s shirt. (It also has writing on the back—in yellow.) Both are made of the same soft tri-blend material. You will LOVE it!

teal running shirt

 

SIGNING UP TO PARTICIPATE IN CHALLENGE AND/OR 5K:

Our platform is https://runsignup.com/.

—Sign up at https://runsignup.com/Race/UT/Logan/NOFRONTIERSPlaceRun
—Create a profile. This is where you’ll be creating your own challenge (if you wish), where you’ll be posting pictures of yourself/your running mates (dog etc.)/your beautiful landscape/significant western places/other stuff (be creative!)

—On your own social media, use the hashtag #WLAPlaceRun.

SPONSORSHIPS:

This is a fundraiser for the general operations of the WLA. Due to the cancellation of the conference in 2021, we need your help to raise some much needed funds.

When you create your profile on runsignup.com, there is an option to become a fundraiser. (Look for the button “Become a Fundraiser.”)  You can ask your family, friends, associates to sponsor you by the mile walk/run or ask them for a set amount they’re willing to give to see you succeed.

If you manage to get sponsorships that total $300 or more, $45 of your registration fee will automatically be refunded.

PRIZES:  3 categories

MILEAGE/PLACE PRIZES  

Greatest Distance

1-year WLA membership and 
$100 gift certificate toward a new pair of running shoes of your choice

Most Creative Documentation
of Place

(see criteria below)

1-year WLA membership and 
$100 bookstore gift certificate

5K (2 prizes will be given)

 

Best Documentation of Place Selfie

(see criteria below)

1-year WLA membership and
$50 bookstore gift certificate

FUNDRAISER

 

Most Money Raised

3-year WLA membership and
$100 bookstore gift certificate

Themed Prizes

While we cannot be together at a particular place, our virtual event is meant to celebrate (together) our respective places. Accordingly, this award has nothing to do with distance or speed or difficulty of terrain but your documentation of the PLACE or PLACES where you are running as they are relevant to WLA, wherever you may be. For example, run past the historic home of a regional author, an iconic feature of your landscape, or a funny “western” roadside sign. Then, take a selfie with the appropriate backdrop or a suitable snap from your phone and upload the photo to your race page with appropriate explanation/commentary.

Place-Documentation Award (during 4-Week Challenge)

For the challenge, you may upload a number of images that document your general area over the challenge period. Your commentary for each photo should help your documentation become a sort of photo-essay of your place. Be creative. You could develop certain themes or approaches, like illustrating a bioregion or a particular historical episode. This activity should also help you with your fundraising efforts, as you can post the photos on your own Facebook page too and encourage friends to donate.

Place-Documentation Award (5K)

For the 5K, you may enter one image for the award judging. This image should be a selfie with the significant backdrop visible and accompanying information explaining the place.

Judging Criteria:

—Images include necessary place information.

—Places are relevant/of interest to WLA audience.

—Places are along the entrant’s run/walk/hike route.

For Challenge category, photos are to be accompanied by informative and creative commentary.

  • Western Literature Association (WLA)

    Founded in 1965, the Western Literature Association (WLA) is a non-profit, scholarly association that promotes the study of the diverse literature and cultures of the North American West, past and present.

  • Western American Literature (WAL)

    (The Journal)

    Published by the Western Literature Association, Western American Literature is the leading journal in western American literary studies.

  • Black Lives Matter

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