Granville students, teachers run to inspire voters

The students and teachers traveled to the 48 contiguous states on a “Run to Vote” drive to register voters and get those already registered to pledge to vote.

In the non-partisan drive, the group ran a lap for every person promising to cast a ballot in November.

More than 6,100 people pledge to vote by signing the group’s banner. More than 430 people registered to vote for the first time.

The group ran 693 miles.

For junior Ian Morris, the running was easy. It was learning how to talk to strangers about voting that was tough.

“It’s just something that hadn’t really clicked in me. I was scared of the unknown, but I found out the unknown could be great,” he said.

Teachers Jonathan Williams and Diane Hineline spent some of their own money to finance the trip. Hineline purchased a van, which suffered a few break downs along the way.

“I guess the biggest thing that happened is the transmission went out in Washington state,” she said. “We were as far away from home as we could possibly be.”

Through the kindness of strangers, they got back on the road with a rebuilt transmission.

As the students and teachers returned to school, the small group said they think the 6,000-plus signatures will make a big difference.

“I mean, hey, Florida was decided by less than that. I think we definitely made a difference,” Williams said. “I’m a civics teacher, and I couldn't have taught that in the classroom.”