WATCH: See Highlights From UC s MainStreet Stride

The 2012 MainStreet Stride drew the highest number of participants in the seven years that the red-and-black foot parade has been held on UC’s Campus. The UC Bearcat Marching Band led the parade.

The parade is an annual tradition following the 2006 completion of MainStreet, a corridor through the heart of campus where people can live, learn, work, dine and play.

The MainStreet Stride was led by the UC Bearcat Marching Band and UC President Gregory H. Williams. The co-grand marshals of the parade were the UC men’s basketball team and volleyball team.

President Williams said it was the largest participation in the celebration, with 1,400 people registered.

Parade entries were judged by their Bearcat spirit. The 2012 panel of judges was represented by Rohan Hemani, Homecoming King 2011; Chizi Igwe,  Homecoming Queen 2011;  Frank Bowen, associate vice president for Student Life and Dean of Students; Greg Hand, university spokesperson; and UC Police Chief Michael Cureton.

The parade ended with a free picnic on Alumni Commons, where UC President Gregory H. Williams inaugurated the new 2012-2013 Student Government senators, Student Body President Lane Hart and Student Body Vice President Maesa Idries.

“I’ve never been more proud to be a part of the Bearcat nation,” said Hart, a Kolodzik Business Scholar and information systems and finance major. “I want to invite everyone to be a part of Student Government and come to us with any concerns or issues you have throughout the year,” Hart said.

President Williams also presented the gnome awards for popular parade entries.

Here are the winners of the 2012 MainStreet Stride:

Most Appreciated

Band Director Terren Frenz and the UC Marching Band

Most Spirited Student Organization

Bearcast (Internet radio)

Most Spirited UC Department

Student Life

Most Creative Student Organization

International Students

Most Creative UC Department

Facilities Management

President’s Choice Award/Student Organization

UC Running Club

President’s Choice Award/UC Department

Center for Exploratory Studies

President Williams also presented the Bearcat mascot with a special award for “defeating the evil gnome and allowing us to host the MainStreet Stride,” as

portrayed in a video

that promoted the foot parade.

President Williams also presented a special award to Betsy Ross, a former ESPN anchor and president of Game Day Communications, who is a regular emcee of the MainStreet Stride.

The parade is the traditional kickoff to Alumni Weekend.

UC’s Sigma Sigma Carnival

is coming up tomorrow. The annual carnival, open to the public, has been a UC tradition since 1939. The family-friendly event typically brings out thousands of people.

Look at MainStreet Stride Photos from UC Admissions