Steps for Students celebrates 20 years running

Daniel Cardinal DiNardo, at right, and Mazie McCoy, Ed.D., greet runners as they pass through the starting line at the 2025 Steps for Students 5K Race and 1K Walk on Feb. 8 in downtown Houston. (Photo by James Ramos/Herald)

A misty February morning greeted thousands as they arrived in downtown Houston for the 20th annual Steps for Students 5K Run/Walk on Feb. 8.

A day that began in faith, with a Sunrise Mass at the Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart, came alive as families from Catholic schools across the Archdiocese lined up at the race starting line.

PHOTOS: Seen at Steps for Students 2025

Runners and walkers tightened shoelaces, and parents prepped their strollers to charge down San Jacinto Street. After a blessing from Daniel Cardinal DiNardo, the ringing of the Co-Cathedral’s bells, a blast from the starting air horn, and the release of confetti officially sent the crowd on their way with timed runners at 8:30 a.m. and walkers afterward.

The course, which started by the Downtown Chancery and ended near the Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart, featured a nine-block straight dash to open the race. A quick turn on Walker Street brought runners under several skybridges, then winding further through downtown after a turn on Leeland Street, the course either continued straight for the family mile walk or split down Leeland and crossed over I-59 on a bridge into the East End’s trendy East downtown neighborhoods colored with bright graffiti and urban art.

After once again dashing over 59 for the final mile, runners then zipped through Midtown, crossing under the 45 overpass. A quick turn back onto St. Joseph brought racers back to the Co-Cathedral, where they ran to the finish line. A variety of cheerleaders, waiting near the end, welcomed participants as they crossed the finish line. Thousands received race medals, each especially commemorating the race’s 20th anniversary.

By mid-morning, the sun burst through the overcast sky to warm up runners and walkers, including families, some pushing strollers and other little ones in wagons.

Race-goers then took to the tailgating party at the Catholic School Village that stayed in full swing throughout the morning with tents and booths from many of the schools decked out in varying themes.

Each year, schools compete for a variety of awards in the Catholic School Village. This year’s winners included Corpus Christi School, which won “Steps Superstar;” Our Lady of Guadalupe School, which won “Best Bites;” Incarnate Word Academy won “Cleverly Creative;” St. Thomas More School won “Steps Spirit;” and St. Anne School in Tomball won “School Spirit.”

Iconic Houston teams and mascots, including Howdy from the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, Toro of the Houston Texans and Hugo, the Reliant Energy armadillo, joined Catholic school mascots and the Houston Astros in providing entertainment.

Ahead of the race, Catholic Schools Superintendent Mazie McCoy, Ed.D., joined Cardinal DiNardo and Auxiliary Bishop Italo Dell’Oro, CRS, in greeting the racers from the starting stage.

“Each year, we come together as one community bonded together by our Catholic faith to celebrate the gift of Catholic education,” she said. “It is not a Catholic school’s event, but a Catholic community event. Thank you so much for being here to share witness to the transformative gift of Catholic education.”

By the end of the morning, more than 10,375 were registered for the event this year, including hundreds of Catholic school families, students, teachers, staff, supporters, dozens of clergy, women religious and more. Funds raised at Steps for Students are allocated to the schools for tuition assistance, scholarships and other school needs.

St. Mary Catholic School in League City won the David Guite Spirit Award, the highest honor given by the Steps for Students race committee and in memory of Guite, a strong advocate for Catholic education and founding member of the Steps for Students event. St. Peter Catholic High School won the President’s Cup, a foot-and-a-half tall silver-hued metal trophy recognizing the high school with the largest percentage of participation in Steps for Students based on enrollment.

Next year, organizers are set to celebrate the love of Catholic education as the next race is set for Feb. 14, 2026.

To learn more about Steps for Students, and to support a school near you, visit www.steps4students.org.