The Mission Inn, a prominent feature of Riverside attractions, hosted their annual Mission Inn Run on Oct. 22 and 23rd. The run has been a Southern Californian staple for 45 years, and is a an important fundraiser for the Mission Inn Foundation. One of the participants this year was MBA student Ahmad Alajaji, who will complete his degree in information systems in December.

As a soon-to-be graduate, Alajaji wanted to run a marathon in Riverside to cap off his final quarter. Following his tradition of representing UCR, Alajaji wore a School of Business t-shirt as he ran.

Alajaji and a friend have run several marathons together, and Alajaji has made numerous connections and found a community through running. He has participated in two Los Angeles marathons, the Rose Bowl marathon and Santa Monica Classic, as well as one located in San Francisco. The Mission Inn Run, he said, was beautiful, a route that showcased the best Riverside has to offer. “I think anyone visiting should do the run, it is a beautiful route to travel and see the city.”

Alajaji, who served as a student ambassador for UCR’s A. Gary Anderson Graduate School of Management last year, speaks glowingly of the MBA program. Despite the challenges that the COVID-19 pandemic presented, Alajaji found that his classmates were extremely supportive, as were his professors. He says that he wants to continue representing the School of Business for what it has provided him. As his last year at UC Riverside comes to a close, Alajaji is grateful for the program, especially the rich diversity it provided in terms of culture and experience. He plans to carry his pride for UCR throughout the rest of career.