UC 9/11 Stair Run at Nippert Stadium

First organized in 2015 by UC’s Office of Veterans Programs & Services (VPS), the Stair Run encourages participants to climb 2,071 steps at Nippert Stadium representing the steps in the twin towers of the World Trade Center. The 2024 run drew over 300 participants. 

The 9/11 terrorist attacks prompted aviation officials to ground air traffic across the United States and Canada and led to the invasion and occupation of Afghanistan.

The tragedy affected countless families and shaped U.S. foreign policy for the past 20 years.

“Sept. 11, 2001, should never be forgotten,” said Terence Harrison, VPS program manager and an Iraq War combat veteran. “We would like the region to know that UC will never take their sacrifice lightly.”

The Stair Run honors the victims and first responders of the attacks on the World Trade Center, the Pentagon in Washington, D.C., and Flight 93, a hijacked commercial jet that crashed near Shanksville, Pennsylvania, after passengers tried to regain control of the airplane from hijackers.

The run is free and open to the public. Registration starts at 5:30 a.m. in front of the UC Lindner College of Business. The run begins at 6:46 a.m. and lasts for 56 minutes — the time people had to evacuate the south tower before it collapsed.

Those who cannot climb steps are welcome to use the accessible route on the concourse if they want to participate.

Featured image at top: 2024 Stair Run photo by Andrew Higley/UC Marketing + Brand.