University of Arkansas’ annual 9/11 stair climb sees record participation at more than 2,000

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (KNWA/KFTA) — 24 years after September 11th, 2001, more than 2,000 participants gathered at Razorback Stadium to remember both heroes and victims who lost their lives that fateful day.

In 2001, 343 firefighters and paramedics were among the 2,996 lives lost as the first responders sprang to action at the World Trade Center.

More than two decades later, firefighters and first responders climbed 110 flights of stairs alongside civilians on the University of Arkansas campus, with the number symbolizing the number of stairs at the twin towers.

According to Command Sergeant Major Justin Drinker with the Army ROTC, many who participate come in full gear or weighted vests to honor the struggle and fight first responders experienced.

Drinker said to him, Memorials like this are important, keeping those who risked their lives alive through memory.

“A good quote that I try to live by is that people don’t truly die until they’re forgotten. And so this is a very important event in our nation’s history. And we need to honor and remember those who fell,” Drinker said.

Though he did not live through the events of 9/11, Drinker said it’s an honor simply to be a part of the work done in the years that followed.

“I wasn’t born around the event, about three years after. But it’s really just an honor to be able to participate in an event that remembers this,” Drinker said. “And I mean, I love to learn more about the history and just work with those firefighters and first responders who get to work on the frontlines every single day.”

Reaching new heights

Through the university’s Air Force and Army ROTC programs, the group hosted its 13th annual stair climb, with Razorback Stadium opening to participants at 5:00 a.m. on the anniversary, a time that many felt was early but worth every moment.

“The big thing is just the wake up, obviously difficult. And knowing 110 flights, that’s a big number. But, just remembering, holy moly, like people put their lives on the line for this. It’s like, who am I to not come out here and walk even a few steps?” University of Arkansas student Caedmon Shann said.

Shann says this is his first year taking on the climb, but some students stepped up to new heights for this challenge.

Colby Rishel is entering his fourth year at the U of A, participating in the annual stair climb the last three years.

However, this year, Rishel serves as the Air Force ROTC director of special projects, getting to play his part in putting the annual event together, which also happens to be the largest turnout the organizers have seen over the 13 years.

“We’ve doubled our numbers every single year from the time that I’ve been here. I’m now a senior. My freshman year, we had around 300 people. My sophomore year, that moved around 800. Last year, around 1,200 to 1,500,” Rishel said.

On the morning of Sep. 11, 2025, the university’s ROTC organizers estimate about 2500 participants arrived to rise to the occasion.

Remembering the fallen

The annual 9/11 stair climb is recognized across the nation with 110 flights or 2,071 stairs.

At Razorback Stadium, climbers were split into three groups with two of the three along the sideline bleachers.

With four major stair sections participants were snaked through, four rounds equaled the total flights.

Firefighters, paramedics, university students, and locals all participated in the climb which lasted from 5:30 a.m. to around 7:30 a.m.

Of the first responder groups from across Northwest Arkansas was the Fayetteville Fire Department, many of whom have taken the climb before, but said the sentiment never changes.

“The guys we lost on that day, they didn’t have the choice to not have gear on. They had to answer that call, and they went to work just like any other day. They went for they went into that building to try to save lives,” Fayetteville firefighter Tanner Danielson said.

Danielson took the climb in full gear, as he does every year, saying he will continue to do so until he cannot physically anymore.

Many firefighters present wore their gear, weighing around 60 pounds, to honor the struggle and fight that first responders endured during the emergency response.

One member of our team taking the climb recalled hearing one department playing the radio scanner conversations from 9/11.

“It just feels good to know that there are people who want to protect us… They’re just here to walk the flights to honor their brothers and sisters who died during 9/11… It just makes me feel good that our first responders are so committed,” Shann said.

Many spent times reflecting throughout the climb, with some finding a new ways to relate to their own firefighting family.

“From a family whose dad was a first responder and a firefighter during 9/11 when the towers went down, my dad did the stair climb a couple of years ago. And he did it with all his gear on, and so being able to do it too, and share that with him is very rewarding for me,” U of A student Emily Thorne said.

110 flights of stairs, with around 2,500 people, many saw this as a reflection of not only our region, but our country.

“I just think that it’s an amazing thing that, even though sometimes you see our country divided, they are all coming together and remembering this somber event… really showing what they care about,” Rishel said.

“Taking this to heart and climbing for this, I feel the sense of community within Arkansas. Getting to come to school here is one of the things I’m most grateful about with the people and the sense of unity and community here,” U of A student Cezanne Lambert said.

For more updates from the organizers, you can follow the Razorback Battalion Facebook page.