NYC Cornellian's Inaugural Marathon Scholarship Campaign

NYC Cornellians has formed a partnership with New York Road Runners to support the annual NYC Marathon. This year, on November 3, Cornell will have over 60 volunteers spread throughout the racecourse supporting the water stations that runners depend on as they make their 26.2 mile journey. In recognition of Cornell's volunteer spirit, NYRR granted NYC Cornellians five spots in this year's marathon!

NYC Cornellians is using these spots to promote its undergraduate scholarship fund, which supports NYC students with financial need to attend Cornell. After a call for interested runners over the summer with many interviews, NYC Cornellians selected its five finalists. Please welcome: Arianna Kohilakis, Stephen Kurczewski, Cody Levine, Molly Mandel and Melissa Rudder as our runners for this year's marathon! You can read more about each of them below.

Please join us in making a contribution to this meaningful cause. Any support you can provide will be greatly appreciated!  

Meet Our Runner: Arianna Kohilakis

My name is Arianna Kohilakis. I’m a 2022 graduate of CALS, where I did a double major in applied economics and management (go Dyson!) and information sciences. I was heavily involved in various pre-professional (Cornell Consulting Group, Cornell Business Analytics) and social groups on campus. My older sister is also a Cornell grad and my younger sister is a current Cornell student! I grew up in Rye Brook, NY, and moved to New York City after graduation. I spent the last two years working at McKinsey & Company doing a mix of banking, healthcare, and sustainability work and just started my JD/MBA at Columbia University this past August.

One of my favorite parts of Ithaca were all the beautiful hiking trails and gorges, which really fostered my appreciation for the outdoors and got me into running. I had the pleasure of running the NYC Marathon last year and have been excited about the prospect of running again ever since I crossed the finish line. I am so grateful to NYC Cornellians for the opportunity to participate again in this quintessential NYC day and to represent Big Red. 

As someone who was able to pursue my degree with the assistance of financial aid, I appreciate the mission of NYC Cornellians to minimize the financial burden of college for undergraduates. Fundraising to support this mission, and help relieve this burden so others can focus on their academic and professional journeys, is something I am passionate about. As one of three sisters (both of whom traveled from afar to cheer me on on marathon day last year!!), I'm excited to widen and embrace more of the Cornell family this year. Especially in New York, there’s nothing that makes me happier than attending Cornell events, hosting student orgs when they come back for networking events, and running into fellow alumni on the sidewalk. 

Thank you for the opportunity to run and I am looking forward to sharing this experience with the broader NYC Cornellian community this November.

Meet Our Runner: Stephen Kurczewski

Hi! My name is Stephen Kurczewski. I was born & raised in Philadelphia, PA. Cornell wasn’t even on my radar for college until a football recruiter contacted me. It was love at first sight. I came back from my campus visit with a Cornell or bust mindset. I ended up transitioning to the rugby team in sophomore year and enjoyed national level competition with intense camaraderie. I spent a lot of time at the gorges and in all the libraries while on campus. I also worked for the fledgling Cornell Fitness Centers in my senior year, which set me up for my career as a fitness professional.  

The day I received the email from NYC Cornellians about the marathon opportunity was the day I learned that my business partner’s son had been accepted to Cornell. Talk about full circle—I was swimming in fond memories of my years at Cornell and thinking about all the new experiences this soon-to-be high school graduate would have. 

Being based in Connecticut now with my wife, son and Goldendoodle, it has been harder to stay connected to Cornell— only attending the hockey game against Yale each year and getting together occasionally with my rugby teammates. However, the NYC Marathon opportunity brings a renewed life in my reunion with Cornell.  

Running and raising money for Team Big Red is the perfect opportunity for me to re-engage my alma mater! I’m really excited to be a part of the inaugural NYC Cornellian marathon team to meet new fellow alumni, establish the first fundraising benchmark and generally beam with Big Red pride.

Meet Our Runner: Cody Levine

I grew up in Purchase, NY, where I developed a love for sports and community. I graduated from Cornell in the class of 2013, and during my time there, I played for the varsity men’s lacrosse team. Being part of the Cornell lacrosse team was one of the highlights of my life, as I had the incredible opportunity to play in two Final Four championship weekends and win multiple Ivy League championships. Those experiences, along with the lifelong friendships I formed with my teammates and fellow Cornellians, were truly some of the most defining moments of my college years.

After graduation, I moved to New York City and lived there for 10 years, fully immersing myself in the energy and vibrancy of the city. Today, I continue to carry the lessons of teamwork and perseverance that Cornell instilled in me. In addition to my lacrosse journey, I’ve embraced endurance sports, starting with my first half Ironman in December 2022 and I now have set my sights on the NYC Marathon as my next major challenge.

And what better way to do it than to run for the NYC Cornellians Undergraduate Scholarship Fund. I am proud to be running for a cause that helps local students have the opportunity to experience Cornell just as I did—an experience that shaped who I am today. This scholarship not only supports students during a pivotal time in their lives but also eases their financial burden after graduation by reducing their student loans. The thought of helping more local kids access the incredible opportunities that Cornell offers is a powerful motivator for me.

Having the Cornell community cheering me on during the marathon is an incredibly powerful motivator. The lessons I learned during my time at Cornell, particularly through my experience as a student-athlete, have stayed with me throughout my professional and personal life. Knowing that my Cornell family will be there to support me during the race reminds me of the strength of this community and how it continues to shape who I am.

Meet Our Runner: Molly Mandel

Hi! I'm Molly Mandel, and I'm so excited to be running the marathon with NYC Cornellians. Running has been a passion of mine since childhood. At eight years old, I ran my first 5K with my dad, supporting my hometown (Woodcliff Lake, NJ!) Board of Education. We kept running local 5Ks and 10Ks around the county, and my running continued through cross country and track in high school, and then running recreationally around beautiful Ithaca during my time at Cornell. I ran my first marathon senior year at Cornell, and some of my favorite memories of college include running through the Cornell Botanic Gardens. 

At Cornell, I studied food science. I was involved in Greek Life, Hillel, and I interned in Cornell's dairy plant, where I helped to create the ice cream presented to Joe Biden at my commencement. Now, I work in brand management for Unilever, focusing on ice cream (yes, I still love ice cream!). 

I've been fortunate to run the NYC Marathon for the past two years, and this year I'm thrilled to be running with a bigger purpose—raising money for Cornell scholarships through NYC Cornellians. The NYC Marathon holds a special place in my heart because of the overwhelming support from family and friends along the course. Having the Cornell community cheering me on this year will be such a boost and make this experience even more meaningful. 

For me, running is about dedicating time to myself and my health, exploring the world and the outdoors around me, and pushing my limits. This marathon is a way for me to give back to a place that had such a life-changing impact on my journey. I want to ensure that future generations of students have the same opportunity to experience Cornell, regardless of financial barriers. With your help, I hope to raise as much as I can to support Cornell scholarships. Thank you so much for your support, and I can't wait to see you on race day!

Meet Our Runner: Melissa Rudder

Hi, I’m Melissa Patton Rudder—a Sloanie, graduate of the inaugural class of the Jeb E. Brooks School of Public Policy. I obtained my Master of Health Administration (EMHA) in 2022. My 12-year-old son and I moved from Williamsburg, Brooklyn, to Greenport, Long Island, in 2013. I currently work in senior living as an operations manager at Peconic Landing, a nationally recognized life plan community. During my non-working hours, I enjoy cuddling with my son and our 3-year-old Aussie Doodle (Teddy), following podcasts—my new favorite “Women of Impact,” listening to jazz, exploring the outdoors, and spending time with friends and family.

In 2018, I ran the NYC Marathon, remembering it as the second-best day of my life—the first of course is the day my son was born. My inspiration to run again was… having that third-best day! Words can’t describe the feeling I had when I crossed that finish line after hours of running. I can’t believe I have this opportunity again. To be chosen to represent one of the world’s best universities…in the world’s best city… supporting students with financial need—what could be better than that!

Much of what kept me going during my first marathon was knowing I had familiar faces calling out my name and spurring me on. This year, when I hit that point of complete exhaustion, I can’t wait to look up to see my cheering Cornelian family and catch those Big Red vibrations!