A portion of the proceeds from this year’s Mini Grand Prix of Denver, which last year netted $15,000 in scholarship funds for Auraria students, will once again benefit the Auraria Foundation Scholarship Fund.

The Mini Grand Prix of Denver is go-kart competitions, including a celebrity race, that take place in the Tivoli annex parking lot (off Auraria Parkway between Seventh and Ninth Streets) on a scaled replica of the official Grand Prix track. The Mini Grand Prix will run through Aug. 14.

Last year Metro State’s $5,000 share of the proceeds was disbursed to two students: senior Laura Gardner, a single mother with medical school aspirations whose previous scholarship expired at the end of the 2005 spring semester, and Jordan Felker, a first-time freshman who earned a 4.0 his first semester.

How will the Grand Prix affect campus?
Outbound and inbound Auraria Parkway: Beginning Aug. 10 at 6:30 p.m., Denver officials will close the outbound Auraria Parkway from 11th Street to 7th Street. The inbound Auraria Parkway will close Aug. 11 at 10 a.m. Both will remain closed through Aug. 14, and will reopen in time for the morning rush hour on Aug. 15.

Students, faculty and staff can access Seventh Street from West Colfax Avenue during this closure period.

Campus parking lots: Campus parking lots will be available to students, faculty and staff on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Parking Lot R will be accessible from Speer Boulevard only by using the jug-handle turn on Auraria Parkway. Campus parkers should be prepared to show campus ID Friday through Sunday and expect some delays and noise. Non-campus parkers will be charged a higher special-event rate. RTD will detour buses around the Grand Prix site from 10 a.m. Aug. 10 until 6 a.m. Aug. 15. It is anticipated that Light Rail will be heavily used Aug. 12-14.

Campus buildings: Campus classroom buildings will be locked on Aug. 14 for security reasons. Faculty and staff wishing to access campus buildings on Sunday will need to have their campus ID and building key/access card with them.

The Tivoli Student Union and Campus Bookstore will remain open for business during the Grand Prix activities.

Grand Prix tix and events
Interested in attending a Grand Prix event? Tickets are available at the Pepsi Center Box Office or at Ticket Master Outlets (www.ticketmaster.com). For a complete schedule of Grand Prix events, visit www.gpdenver.com. For information about the Mini Grand Prix call Jeff Stamper at 303-556-2750.