Oct 23 marks a special tradition for the DGN Science department every year. Students gather on Carstens Field early in the morning and begin a 6.02 lap run or walk at exactly 6:02 a.m. to celebrate Mole Day. This day refers to the mole used in every chemistry class, a unit of measurement used to quantify molecules or atoms.

“This is my 14th year being the department chairperson. Mole day was going on at North before I got here and had dwindled a little bit, and then we kind of resurrected it.” science department chairperson Michael Heinz said. “Mr. Grant has worked to get it as big as you see it today.”

Each year, Mole Day follows the same routine starting with students running or walking around the track at exactly 6:02 a.m. in reference to Avogadro’s number, 6.022×10^23, which denotes the number of particles in a single mole.

“Everyone gathers and runs the 6.02 laps initiated by the mole cannon, then we get the kids up in the stands to see how many people came to mole day, but also to capture that moment for history. After that, we play games, give raffle prizes, and eat,” Heinz said.

Heinz puts the estimate for this year’s turnout at about 175-200 students which is slightly more than the past couple of years. The breakfast includes various fruits and donuts and is paid for by Mole Day shirts that are sold each year.

“I’ve been going to Mole Day since freshman year and the energy is definitely higher this year,” senior Brady Travers said. “I love playing the games with my friends after walking around the track.”

Students can participate in various games with a mole theme to win ‘mole bucks’. The mole bucks are used as tickets to enter a raffle where students can win various prizes.

“My favorite part of Mole Day is seeing students come year after year after year,” Heinz said. “Mole Day is something that makes you interesting, it’s crazy nerdy to do. But that’s what we do in life: find like-minded people who share in the nerdiness of this. “