Students Plan Free Centennial Event For Fellow Students

TAHLEQUAH Organizing and publicizing the upcoming Founders Day Student Celebration was more than a volunteer job for Kara French, it was a way to show pride in her university and get her fellow students excited about attending Northeastern State University.

"There are so many students who come to class, sit in class, and go home that never really experience the university," said French. "We want to show everyone there's a reason to have pride in this university."

French, and fellow students Bryson Williams, Megan Edmonds, Mike Patton, and Janelle Adair, have devoted countless hours to organizing the Founders Day Student Celebration, scheduled for Thursday, March 5 from 10 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. at Doc Wadley Stadium.

The group began meeting in December as a student advisory board with a number of other students to toss around ideas about how to get students involved and excited for the NSU Centennial and Founders Day. Those meetings generated the concept of a student Founders Day event and the planning committee was formed from the five volunteers.

S"We wanted this to be an event by the students for the students," said French, who has focused her energies on promoting the event. "It's open to all NSU students and something fun to do to celebrate something that doesn't happen every day."

Only students with green NSU Centennial bracelets will be admitted to the stadium area. Bracelets can be picked up from the Northeastern Activities Board Office in the University Center Basement, Branscum Alumni Center, Residence Hall Association Office in Leoser Hall, Broken Arrow Student Affairs Office, Muskogee Administration Office or from any of the committee members. Bracelets will also be available at the entrance gate with a student ID.

"We're really excited about creating this free event specifically for students," said Williams. "The weather is supposed to be great on Thursday and we're looking forward to a great night."

The students gathered 20 volunteers from the NSU faculty and staff to help with games and food vending so that all the students could participate in the event. Following a carnival theme, students will get hot dogs, popcorn, cotton candy, pop and water. Samplers will also be handing out free bottles of Jones Soda and testing a new brand of energy drink.

The movie "Yes Man" will be playing on the Jumbotron during the event, which will also feature a live DJ, carnival games and inflatables. The NSU Theatre Department is donating costumes for a photo booth area where students can dress up and take pictures.

Students will also get free T-shirts proclaiming "I Am A Centennial Student" and be entered for a chance to win one of 100 Centurion Scholarships that will be handed out during Founders Day activities on Friday, March 6.

At midnight, there will be a fireworks display to officially mark the start of NSU Founders Day.

French, Williams, and the other members of the planning committee are hoping that students are enticed to check out the event and begin the Founders Day celebration with their fellow students.

"We planned the event later at night so that it wouldn't conflict with any other events, meetings or classes on campus," said French. "It's a come and go event, but we really hope students come out, have fun and stay the whole time.

3/3/2009

Published: 2009-03-03 00:00:00