Students celebrate SMU’s Centennial

By Paige Carter

Business Editor

Over 540 students and faculty attended the Saint Mary’s University carnival-themed Student Centennial Event on April 13, according to Associate Director of Alumni Relations Bob Fisher.

The event was planned by the Student Centennial Leaders (CSLs), a group of students who assist in the planning and support at Centennial events.  The efforts were co-chaired by senior Julianne Bartosz and sophomore Conner Ellinghuysen.

Fisher, who oversees the CSLs, said that the Student Centennial Event was the largest student-attended event of the 2012-2013 academic year.

“The CSLs put a lot of hard work into planning and implementing the event, especially since it was in celebration of such a monumental year for Saint Mary’s,” said Bartosz.  “Seeing all of the students enjoying themselves at the event definitely made all of the work worth it.”

During the three-hour carnival event, live bands played and Famous Dave’s catered in food. The event  featured many blow-up activities and games. There was an obstacle course, arcade-style skeeball and a basketball activity. Prizes specific to the student event were given to students, including shirts, drawstring bags, tumblers and chip clips.

After the carnival, 195 students attended the Decade Dance, which was held in the Toner Dining Hall. Students were encouraged to dress in attire from their favorite decades. The decades that were represented ranged from the 1940s to 2020. DJ Downtown Petey Brown provided music for the two-hour event.

Throughout the carnival and dance, students had the opportunity to win prizes through a raffle. Some of the raffle prizes included flat screen TVs, iPad Minis, SMU apparel, tickets to a Chicago Cubs game and an iPod Nano.

“I was happy to see the reaction of people who won prizes,” said Bartosz, who emceed the Decade Dance.  “So many students were overjoyed because they’ve never won such a big prize before.”

The CSLs began planning the event in November after receiving approval from Brother William Mann, president, and Vice President for Student Life Chris Kendall.

“Being involved in the planning process, it was great to see the turnout after all the hard work we put into each stage of the event,” said senior CSL Hailey Ohl. “It was a great way to start the university’s next 100 years.”