The third annual Miles For Mik event, a 24-hour journey dedicated to raising funds for the Mikaelah Molifua Memorial Scholarship at Hastings College, is set for this Friday and Saturday, April 12-13, 2024.
Throughout the 24 hours, Hastings College physical education instructor Casey Molifua ’15/MAT ’17 and associate professor of art Dr. Brian Corr ’99 will walk one mile around Heartwell Park — sometimes wearing weighted vests. The duo will begin at 6:00 a.m. on April 12, and they invite anyone in the region to stop and walk with them, or walk or jog a mile wherever they may be in honor of Mikaelah “Mik” Molifua or any loved one lost to cancer.
For the 12:00 p.m. hour on Friday, Hastings College employees and students will join Molifua and Corr as one community to walk the mile around Heartwell Park.
“We invite others to walk with our campus community, but also to take some time to remember a loved one lost to cancer, have a conversation with a friend or colleague, or simply enjoy a walk in the park with our community. All are welcome,” Molifua said. “For those not in Hastings, we invite you to walk and wherever you may be.”
Those who knew Mik, in life or in spirit, are able to participate by making a gift to grow the scholarship. Details and a link to a giving form can be found at hastings.edu/mik. The goal for Miles for Mik this year is to grow the scholarship’s endowment by $10,000.
The home base for the event is the Jackson Dinsdale Art Center (700 E. 12th Street).
This is the third year the duo has undertaken the 24-hour journey to grow the endowment of the scholarship named after Casey Molifua’s sister.
The scholarship benefits Hastings College student-athletes with financial need and an exceptional spirit and enthusiasm for the Broncos. Special consideration is given to students facing health challenges.
About Mikaelah Molifua
Few have worn Hastings College Crimson with as much energy, enthusiasm and positivity as Mikaelah Molifua.
When the Lincoln North Star graduate arrived on campus as a first-year student, she’d already defeated Stage IV cancer and was ready to channel her electric spirit into all things Bronco-related. As she earned her undergraduate degree in English education, she competed for the Bronco cheer and softball teams, served as a resident assistant in Babcock Hall, and led Alpha Delta Alpha sorority. In 2014, she even earned the title Ms. Bronco in the annual campus talent competition.
After graduating in 2017, Mikaelah remained on campus to earn a Master of Arts in Teaching degree with a physical education endorsement. She also became head coach for the Bronco Cheer and Crimson Spirit Dance teams.
That’s when cancer returned. Always positive, Mikaelah taught the Hastings College family to be courageous and Molifua Strong in the face of adversity. She died on June 26, 2020.
Hastings College is a four-year residential college that focuses on student academic and extracurricular achievement. Discover more at hastings.edu.
