Students Today, Alumni Tomorrow will host its annual End of Year Blowout celebration, complete with food and games, today at Harris Field from 6 to 7:30 p.m.
According to Josh Sherrod, director of STAT and junior in microbiology, the blowout is the last of STAT’s monthly events for the year and is meant to act as a stress reliever before final exams begin.
“We also use this as our renewal event,” Sherrod said. “Anyone can come and join for the 2007 – 2008 year and get the new T-shirt, planner and STAT benefits package for the year.”
Jessica Lee, a STAT member and junior in communication, said that the STAT committee has been working hard to make this year’s blowout better than ever.
“All N.C. State students are invited to the blowout,” Lee said. “This year’s event will include free hamburgers, hot dogs, ice cream and a lot of fun activities.”
According to Katie Young, a member of the STAT committee and senior in business management, this year’s event will have a carnival theme complete with a sumo wrestling station, a jousting ring and an inflatable obstacle course where two competitors can race to the finish.
“There will be a bunch of food, music and games to enjoy in a fun, relaxing atmosphere,” Young said.
The blowout was originally set for April 11, but according to Sherrod, it had to be rescheduled on short notice due to weather forecasts predicting rain on the day of the event.
“Moving [the blowout] to Dead Week has had its ups and downs,” Sherrod said. “We know that a lot of people are busy studying for finals and attending review sessions during Dead Week, but nonetheless, we are hoping for a big crowd.”
According to Sherrod, a similar event called Lighten Your Load is held during Dead Week of the fall semester and has proven to be STAT’s most successful event.
“We hope that moving the End of Year Blowout to Dead Week will prove as successful as Lighten Your Load has been in the fall,” Sherrod said.
According to Lee, STAT is an open-membership organization that is available to both undergraduate and graduate students.
“STAT provides mentoring opportunities with alumni and leadership positions for campus events,” Lee said. “Members also receive a package of benefits, including the newly designed T-shirt, a 2007 – 2008 academic planner and discounts to local businesses including Amedeo’s and Ruckus Pizza.”
Sherrod said STAT hosts a variety of social and professional events each year, including social events like the Welcome Back Pig Pickin’, and professionally oriented events like the alumni networking dinners and leadership conferences where students get the chance to interact with alumni.
As a business major, Young said she finds these networking opportunities to be very important.
“I joined STAT my sophomore year because I saw it as a way for students to get more involved with other students, faculty and alumni at the University,” Young said. “STAT gives me the opportunity to make important connections with the alumni, which hopefully will benefit me in the future.”
