The first ever Peralta Pumpkin Pursuit 5K Run & Walk, a fundraiser benefiting the Peralta Colleges Foundation, was held on October 18, 2025, a crisp sunny Saturday morning at Merritt College in the Oakland Hills. It might have been the first, but it won't be the last as too much fun was had by all who participated!
Peralta Community College District (PCCD) Chancellor Dr. Tammeil Gilkerson observed, "For a few brief hours...during our inaugural Peralta Pumpkin Pursuit 5K, all was right and good in the world. Perfect weather, a beautiful campus, wonderful people — and a ridiculously fun event that brought our community together. Over 300 participants, countless smiles, and more than $75,000 raised to support our students." And she also participated! "I had never run a race before, and yet there I was — running alongside colleagues, students, and neighbors, feeling what collaboration, pride, and joy can build."
The event included the 5K (3.1 mile) run or walk for adults plus a one mile fun run for children. Plus the bouncy house slides for kids (and presidents and chancellor, haha!), delicious food, music from KGPC 96.9 FM, t-shirts, finisher medals, swag bags, free Oakland Roots game tickets for student participants, and so much more. It was a blast!
Competition was fierce with Alexa Lua crossing the line together with Jonny Pegg in a literal photo finish, each taking first place in their respective division and with Alexa as the overall victor.
Women's Division:
- Alexa Lua
- Peilin He
- Songyi He
Men's Division:
- Jonny Pegg
- Connor Tench
- Tirrell Day
Congratulations to Student Trustee Léo Migliaccio (seen above with Chancellor Gilkerson) who turned in a very fast top-5 performance!
Volunteers were up early getting things ready for the day, led by Deputy Chancellor & COO Greg Nelson (seen below with a not-so-menacing apparition). PCCD Board of Trustees President Louis Quindlen was there helping check-in the 322 competitors. Volunteers from Peralta Federation of Teachers (PFT) and Service Employees International Union (SEIU) were out on the course making sure everyone stayed happy and well-hydrated. Thank you to all our volunteers!
The route, a 1 mile loop around the lovely Merritt campus (one lap for the kids, and three laps for the 5K participants) was loaded with signs thanking our many corporate sponsors as well as fun facts about the Peralta Colleges. Thanks to the generosity of these sponsors, Peralta Colleges students were able to participate free of charge. Thank you!
- Alten Construction
- Future Flooring Group
- Alma Strategies
- McKnight Associates
- NCS Moving Services
- Diligence Security Group
- Keenan Associates
- Siebert Williams Shank
- Aventus Private Security
- Piper | Sandler
- Facilitron
- Oakland Roots & Oakland Soul
- Backstrom McCarley Berry & Co. LLC
- and more!
Official Peralta Pumpkin Pursuit 5K results are posted on the website here. Many more photos of the event - including pictures from Kim Gonzalez, Tammeil Gilkerson, Greg Nelson, S. Jamila Buckner, Rebecca Opsata, Tom Rizza, Mark Johnson, and other Peralta CCD employees - are posted on the Peralta Colleges SmugMug account here.
Save the Date! Peralta Piano Party - the next Foundation fundraiser - will take place at the District Service Center Atrium on Friday, February 27, 2026. It promises to be an evening of music and merriment and we hope to see you there.
