What started as a small group of student runners has quickly grown into one of the most active and celebrated organizations on campus. The UHCL Running Hawks Run Club, which meets every Wednesday at 5:30 p.m., has become a hub for fitness, connection, and student leadership.

Since its founding last year, the club has seen consistent participation from weekly meetups welcoming runners of all skill levels—from beginners looking to stay active to experienced athletes training for races.

“My first day I showed up everyone was so welcoming, and I knew right then and there I wanted to be part of the organization,” club member Christopher Monita said. 

The club’s rapid growth and impact did not go unnoticed. During the recently held 2026 Hawk Excellence Awards, the Running Hawks Run Club was presented with the New Student Organization of the Year award.

At the center of the club’s success is founder Edgar Alanis, whose leadership has been instrumental in shaping the organization as it currently stands. Alanis was also individually honored at this year’s Hawk Excellence Awards by receiving the Student Organization Executive Leader of the Year award.

“It started out with our officers in genetics lab talking about creating a new fitness organization and as soon as the (2025) Fall semester started, we began hosting events and began reaching out to other clubs and eventually, we started to grow,” said Alanis.

“We have done activities outside of the organization to further grow within ourselves, everyone is really close to each other, and I think this is the perfect opportunity to expand and find leadership,” said Monita.

As the club looks to what’s ahead, members hope to expand their campus presence through more frequent organized events, collaborations with other student organizations, and potential participation in local races.

“We have been consistent in meeting every week, trying to be the best we can by putting on these meets and events,” said Alanis. “We created this club to make everyone feel involved. Whether you’re running or walking, we want our community members here at UHCL to all feel welcomed.”

For more information about how to get involved with the Running Hawks Run Club, you can visit their Instagram.