It has been three long years since laughs, smiles and a whole lot of color filled the Lehighton Area Middle School stadium, but the popular Lehighton Area Elementary Center “Race For Brilliance” made its triumphant return Friday.

“It’s been emotional today,” Nicole Collier-Dick, Lehighton Area Elementary Center PTO president, said. “I’ve seen several parents tearing up. When you think about it, around half of the student body really hasn’t been outside for an activity like this. It’s really wonderful to be back here and have this excitement here again.”

In one of the more popular parts of the event, students take turns by grade running around the track while getting colored powder tossed in their direction by parent volunteers. Leading up to the race, students raise funds that help support a number of PTO-sponsored activities.

“This is our largest fundraiser,” Collier-Dick said. “It helps us pay for the field trips that students go on and other events such as a trip to the movies to see a Christmas film, teacher appreciation days and so on.”

When students weren’t being showered with powder, they were at other stations including a water games area, yard games, bounce houses and a dunk tank.

“The dunk tank opportunities were earned by the students who brought in the most mailers in each class and that initial fundraising started way back in October,” Collier-Dick said.

The Lehighton Outdoor Center was also on site, having sponsored a summer safety course for students.

Platinum sponsors for the event included Lehighton Kia and Brodheadsville Chevrolet. Their sponsorship included purchasing all of the race shorts for students and a donation of drawstring backpacks.

“We’re so thankful for all of our sponsored and volunteers who helped make this a great day,” Collier-Dick said. “Being in the school all week, you could just feel the excitement building up to this day and it hasn’t disappointed.”