By Megan Loock
Elm Staff Writer
Dreary weather did not stop the Student Events Board from hosting their annual Shorefest in the Hodson Hall Commons on Advising Day, Wednesday, April 6.
The event ran from noon to 2 p.m. and included a raffle, face painting, and foods such as burgers, hot dogs, and ice cream for students to enjoy on their day off from classes.
In the Hodson Goose Nest, students were encouraged to play in mini cornhole tournaments, try their hand at hula-hooping, or take a turn around the room on floor scooters.
On the terrace outside of Hodson Hall Commons, SEB collaborated with the President of the Art and Art History Club sophomore Sophia Lennox to hold a face-painting table, where students could get designs of their choosing such as various color hearts or stars above the line of their masks.
Though face painting and cornhole were part of SEB’s original plans for the event, their Paint Day in the Hodson Egg was not.
The series committee planned to host a jousting tournament, bubble soccer, and an inflatable obstacle course that allowed students to race their friends. However, the muddy ground prevented many of the original activities from being set up on the Campus Green.
Instead, Director of Series Events junior Noah Vargas and Director of Student Engagement Antione Jordan ’12 dug through their supply closet to use the remaining — but plentiful — supply of acrylic paint, brushes, and white canvases.
“It literally was luck,” Vargas said.
According to Vargas, SEB didn’t know until the morning of Shorefest how the weather would play out, so it was a fast fix to add a painting activity to the day’s events.
“I really didn’t know that we were going to paint, but [Vargas] approached us and asked if we wanted to paint and we said yeah,” sophomore Layan Al-Baiati said. “It’s just nice to connect with friends.”
Although participation in Paint Day was slow at first, it turned into one of the most popular activities that were offered at the event.
“I think people really like to paint. It’s Advising Day and people just want to lounge out with their friends. It was a really successful event overall,” Vargas said.
Though most of the activities were held inside, students were able to gather outside on the Green between Hodson Hall Commons and Cullen Hall and Kent Hall for hamburgers, hot dogs, and Lockbriar and Daughter Ice Cream.
Senior Merchandiser and Ice Cream Creator Jacqueline Michelle Lockwood served a long line of students who were excited to try the four flavors offered: Vanilla, Cookies and Cream, Chocolate, and their signature Briar Berry.
The line consisted of students who were familiar with the treat, like junior Margaret Post who remembers Lockbriar Farms’ involvement in school events like freshman orientation.
“Lockbriar ice cream is excellent,” Post said. “I am glad it’s back.”
In addition to the events that took place in Hodson, students were encouraged to enter a free raffle for a paid one-year Spotify Premium subscription.
While the event did not go according to SEB’s original plans, it still came together to provide students with a day of fun activities and delicious food.
Photos by Olivia Dorsey
Featured Photo Caption: Students gather outside of Hodson Hall for Shorefest to enjoy some burgers and hotdogs fresh off the grill.