Students, faculty, staff and members of the Lehigh Valley community gathered on April 23 at Lehigh’s Mountaintop for a community picnic and outdoor screening of “Fifth is First,” a documentary by Holly Fasching ’26.
Thursday’s gathering welcomed more than 250 students and community members to experience Mountaintop. The student band Monet, USA, performed live music on the Building C Lawn, which was filled with food, lawn games and community resources. The film premiere showed Fasching’s capstone documentary about Fifth Street Cross, a community-centered cyclocross and cross-country training race based in Emmaus.
“One of our goals is to create more reasons for people to come to Mountaintop and experience it as an active, welcoming part of campus,” said Ruth Traldi, Mountaintop programs manager. “Events like this help people see Mountaintop as a place to gather, engage in unique learning opportunities, connect and feel part of the community.”
The evening highlighted Mountaintop’s next chapter: student creativity, outdoor engagement, community partnership and a growing sense of place on South Mountain. The event built on the success of previous Mountaintop picnics, which have consistently attracted more than 200 attendees.
“This event brought together a lot of what makes Mountaintop special—integrative student work, outdoor gathering and meaningful community partnership,” said Mark Erickson, interim vice president for strategic planning and initiatives. “It was a visible example of Mountaintop activation in action.”
Thursday night reflected Lehigh’s broader strategic vision to transform the campus into a more vibrant destination for learning, research, creativity and connection. It also followed the opening of Lehigh’s first public trail in Forest Park earlier this month.
“With the newly opened Forest Park trails nearby, this was a great opportunity to welcome members of the broader Lehigh Valley community to explore more of the campus and all it has to offer,” said Nancy Trainer, Mountaintop initiative lead and associate vice president for facilities and campus planning.
The mix of students, alumni and members of the Lehigh Valley’s cycling community showed how the event strengthened connections between campus and community around shared interests in outdoor recreation and storytelling. Fasching’s documentary explored the people, history and culture behind Fifth Street Cross, highlighting outdoor sport not only as competition or recreation, but as a source of belonging.
“‘Fifth is First’ is so much more than bikes,” Fasching said. “It’s [the] community and the connections we find with one another. It’s about learning that life isn’t about how good you are at something, it’s about how you approach it, with intention, care and passion. It’s about learning that the people are what make a place.”
Gabe Lloyd, promoter of Fifth Street Cross, said the screening was a meaningful extension of the community the film captures.
“The World Premiere of ‘Fifth is First’ was as good of a Thursday night as you could get,” Lloyd said. “We’re honored, humbled and stoked all at once.”
The project also showcases the interdisciplinary learning that defines a Lehigh education. Though Fasching studied graphic design, she pursued advanced film work and took on the roles of producer, director and editor, creating a documentary rooted in visual storytelling, community engagement and local culture.
Fasching said her work was supported by faculty mentorship, including guidance from Tom Chen, associate professor of Chinese, and the film and documentary studies program. Fasching also credited Fifth Street Cross leaders Gabe Lloyd and Kacey Lloyd, along with many riders and community members, for welcoming her into the group and helping shape the story.
As Mountaintop continues to evolve, Traldi said events like this point to what is possible when Lehigh’s academic strengths, physical assets and community relationships come together.
Thursday night offered a glimpse of Mountaintop as a campus destination shaped by students, open to community and animated by the partnerships and experiences that bring Lehigh’s strategic vision to life.
Written by Ruth Traldi
