Sunday, April 22, 2012

Kids 'N Sibs

Whew! I feel like it was just yesterday when I last posted! This week sure flew by.

This weekend at the 'Hurst, SAC held its annual Kids 'N Sibs weekend. Kids 'N Sibs is a weekend long event where SAC holds a variety of activities on both Friday and Saturday for Mercyhurst Students to do with their siblings. Most "kids" bring "sibs" or cousins, or just friends from other schools. Older, younger, or the same age, it doesn't matter! Though you do not need a sibling to attend, in fact I, personally, am an only child and have attended this event in the past with no one to claim as my "sib."
 
It was an "Under the Sea" theme this year, on Friday night we had a treasure scavenger hunt that lead groups around campus to find clues to where the hidden treasure was. We also had under the sea creatures at a build-a-bear station and the movie "Dolphin Tale" for all to enjoy. Also, notice the Kids 'N Sibs t-shirts in the pictures below, I designed them and they were a huge hit!

My favorite though, of the whole weekend, was Saturday! Saturday was set up with more under sea fun complete with an inflatable obstacle course, a shark slide (see below), more sea creature build-a-bears, face painting, balloon animals, Chick-fil-A, cotton candy, popcorn, and to top it off... Rita's Italian Ice – Swedish FISH flavored of course! Throughout the day on Saturday, there was also chances to win 2 iPads! This was a great event and more and more students come out every year. Maybe once you're a Laker too you'll be bringing up some brothers or sisters to our Kids 'N Sibs weekend, it's always a fun time filled with tons of free stuff!

Check out some of my SAC Board, a BIG shout out to Rosemary (blonde in the front, covering her mouth) and Megan (far right/twin with the headband and jeans) for co-planning this awesome event!


This is Louie the Laker, MU's mascot sneaking some cotton candy...

Next weekend we have the final Laker Spirit Club (LSC) event of the year, it's on Friday and it's a baseball game. Then on Friday night we have a Caribbean Night that we are sponsoring with the Multicultural Center and a Jamnesty concert on Saturday night. After next weekend we have one of the biggest events of the year – Spring Fest! I know I've been mentioning it a little here and there, but I'll be sure to give you the total run down on it next week, all I can say about it for now is that it's on Cinco de Mayo and I'll be meeting Sean Kingston!

Well I'm off to finish a little Sunday night homework, talk to you next time!
- Jenna

P.S. I just wanted to take a quick moment and thank you for taking the time to read my blog, if you ever have any questions or want to know more about SAC, LSC, or MSG or anything else here at the 'Hurst, feel free to comment or shoot me an email :)

Monday, April 16, 2012

Bingo and Mystery and Prizes, OH MY!

What a world wind of events have been going on since I've last posted!

Let me start off by bragging a little, as you know, I am currently the Student Activities Council Chair. This means I over see a board of 10 students and help put on events every weekend. But as the year comes closer, and closer to an end positions are changing. I applied for the Mercyhurst Student Government (MSG) Events Coordinator position, and I got it!

I'll still have some of the same responsibilities, like co-planning Hurst Fest, Spring Fest (which is 18 days away!!!), and all the dances, but I'll also get to organize Mercyhurst's annual Homecoming and Distinguished Speakers Series. I'm so excited! I'll continue to blog right here, but my gears will be shifting as I start in the new position... Still events, just the other side of our student organizations.

Representing the 'Burgh with some of these prizes!
But, until then, I have to tell you about this past weekend. Our Laker Spirit Club hosted a summer time themed booth at a home men's lacrosse game. We had Rita's Italian Ice by the bucket-fulls, leis, and beach balls. It was fun to see the crowd getting pumped in the stands, until it started to rain. But all in all, it was a great show of MU Laker Spirit!

Friday night SAC presented a "Rep Yo Hood" Bingo. It sounds crazy, I know, but tons of kids showed up to win hometown prizes like, Buffalo Wild Wing Sauce, and Primanti Bro.'s gift cards (that's from Pittsburgh, ;) my own hood). We had so many random things for prizes and it was funny to watch Lakers fight over them, like an American flag, or Welch's jelly (did you know Welch's farms are located in North East/Erie?). No matter what the theme of the bingo, the mix of free food and/or competition really seems to draw a big crowd here.

Me, acting a little silly with the iPad tickets...
Then on Saturday night, SAC got a little fancy and had a Murder Mystery Dinner! We had 160 students make reservations for a night of fun, laughter, an Italian style dinner, all with a little mystery. The theme of this particular murder mystery was "Very Desperate Housewives" so naturally, all the girls on SAC wore our cute dresses, high heels, and pearl earrings! In addition to bragging rights, winners of the mystery won gift cards. SAC also held raffles for 10 $25 gift cards to places like the Olive Garden, Valerio's (an Erie favorite that catered this dinner), and the Millcreek Mall to name a few. Also, one lucky Laker won an iPad that we raffled off!

This past weekend was full of fun, bingos are always a win here, and we're even getting feedback that students would love to have a murder mystery dinner come back to campus again!

It's weekends like this where students are so into the events we put on that makes my job all worth the while. I love it!

Well, next weekend we have our annual Kids 'N Sibs weekend, where lots of Lakers bring up a sibling to show them what a good time at the 'Hurst is all about... Talk to you then :)


Jenna

Monday, April 2, 2012

3V3 and Party Rock!

Hello Everyone! How have you been since we last checked in? I've been up to planning some really fun events for the Mercyhurst community. 

This past weekend SAC held two really great events! On Friday we had a 3 versus 3 basketball tournament. We had teams of three sign up to compete for Visa gift cards, and bragging rights of course. Over ten teams came out to show their skills and shoot hoops. All the teams that came had an awesome time and so did SAC.
On Saturday, Mercyhurst had it's annual Major Day and Laker Live In. SAC wanted to really show potential Lakers what MU weekends are all about. So, we had a little event we called "Party Rock!" It was a little concert with the light and poppy artist JD Eicher, hilarious comedian Erin Jackson, and Erie's own rock band, The Romantic Era. If you click on the performers names, it will take you to their respective websites and you hear them play or find out a little more about them. Along with the wonderful music and funny jokes provided, we also served 500 Chick-fil-A sandwiches! It was a fun night and I think all of the students and Laker Live Ins really enjoyed the event. Look at the pictures below!

Next weekend Mercyhurst will be on Easter break, but I'll be sure to check in to tell you what I'm doing/what we are preparing for the following weekend. Enjoy the Easter holiday!

Artist JD Eicher
  
The Romantic Era

Monday, March 26, 2012

Dating Doctor and Dances

This past week at the 'Hurst was exciting!

The Laker Spirit Club had a cookout at the Baseball game versus California University of PA. It was complete with hotdogs, lemonade, and snack mix. The Lakers brought in a win and we were happy to cheer them on!
  
The Dating Doctor

 Also on Friday we brought in David Coleman, the Dating Doctor. If you click on his name it will link you to his website and you can read more into him and his practice. But basically he is "an advisor to the romantically challenged." He gave great tips and tricks on how to talk to someone you may like, or how to tell when someone is interested in you. He made us all laugh too, giving us some of the worst pick-up lines ever – like "If love were measured in milk, you'd be a cow." His bottom line message was you get the respect you deserve, demand, and desire. He was a great entertainer and taught the whole audience a few great lessons. I'm eager to have in back in the future!
  
    

  
Then on Saturday night, SAC and MSG (Mercyhurst Student Government) had the annual Spring Charity Ball. There was delicious desserts and hors d'oeuvres, from Buffalo chicken dip, to chicken satay, chocolate covered strawberries, and tons of different dessert shooters. I'm getting hungry just thinking about it! This year the charity we donated to was the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society (LLS) in honor of Evann Parker, a student we lost earlier this year. Shannon Kissel, the MSG Event Coordinator and I were able to raise $1,100 for the LLS. Students came out, danced the night away and had great food with friends all while raising money for a great cause, it was a perfect event to wrap up Mercy Month with!

Next weekend we have a 3 on 3 Basketball Tournament along with a band event called Party Rock. I'll be back next week to post about all the fun that goes down!

Monday, March 19, 2012

Hypnotists and Holidays!

Wow, what a weekend! It's been a crazy one here at Mercyhurst University.
 
This weekend in addition to our typical SAC events, it was also St. Patrick's Day. As you can imagine, it was a pretty big deal here at an Irish Catholic Institution. Different departments of Mercyhurst joined forces to create a St. Paddy's Day Extravaganza.
 
Keith in our Mary D'Angelo Performing Arts Center
To prep for this Saturday, SAC hosted a classic Mercyhurst event, Hypnotic Intoxication. It's a two-part program which lectured on the powers that alcohol and addictive drugs can play in our lives first, and then has volunteers on stage to really have some fun in the second portion. Keith Karkut hypnotizes participants and invites them to a sick party, in which any alcohol they ever wanted is there in unlimited amounts. For the alcohol is served through the powers of the mind, by serving MU students plain water, which they think is the most potent alcohol they have ever had. This allowed their friends in the audience to see what really happens when they involve themselves in a severe alcohol situation... It's a great educational session that lets students learn while being thoroughly entertained! Keith has been coming to Mercyhurst for years now, and normally puts on this show twice a year. Literally everyone laughs their pants off and makes memories that will last their entire college career (and beyond)!
 
On St. Paddy's Day there was a schedule of events to attend:
 
Noon - 2 p.m. the Laker Spirit Club sponsored the Women's Lacrosse Game
2 - 5 p.m. Residence Life put on an open skate in our Ice Center
5 - 7 p.m. a FREE traditional Irish Dinner was served in our Student Union
7 - 8 p.m. there was a Alcohol Awareness Jeopardy in the Student Union as well
8 - 10 p.m. SAC wrapped up the festivities with Deal Is Right Game Show which students participated to win cool prizes, like a brand new car! (Okay, it was a brand new remote control car... but $250 in cash and other prizes were given away!)
 
As students went to these events they were given a ticket, each ticket they had entered them into a raffle for a Nook Color eReader. It was a great day to celebrate our Irish heritage with friends and faculty!
 
Next weekend SAC has Dave Coleman (the movie Hitch was inspired off of him) and our Spring Charity Ball. This year our Spring Charity Ball is making a donation to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society in memory of a classmate of ours, Evann Parker who passed away earlier this year.
 
I'll post back next week and give you all of the fun details!
 

Sunday, March 11, 2012

Music, Movies, and Mercy

Hello! It's been some time since I last posted. A lot has happened since then, SAC had their classic Food for Finals (the special food was Taco Bell tacos)! Mercyhurst University enjoyed their Spring Break, and we just got through our first week of classes of Spring Term.

To end the first week back, SAC a few easy-going events for students to attend. On Friday night, SAC hosted a Coffee House featuring Nelly's Echo (check him out on the right). He had a really great voice, and was funny! He played well off of the audience and mingled around before and after his performance. Along with his cool beats, SAC served some hot treats. We had coffee, tea, cookies, and cakes. It was a great way to spend a chill Friday night after a seemingly endless week of classes!
 
On Saturday night, SAC showed the movie The Help in our Mary D'Angelo Performing Arts Center. Although it wasn't the newest release we could have brought to campus, students seemed to really enjoyed the film because it was deemed the summer reading for this year's incoming freshman and it was a nice way to tie in our Mercy heritage. A little FYI about the month of March at Mercyhurst: it is officially named Mercy Month and SAC believes that The Helped paired extremely well with the overlying theme for the month. Students, faculty, and the community around campus strive to improve the lives around us during this month each and every year. March honors the history and the mission of the University by encouraging attendance to a variety of service opportunities throughout the month. Another way that SAC is giving back during Mercy Month is our Annual Spring Charity Ball that will occur in two weeks! I'll post more about it then, but until next time, make sure to get out in this beautiful weather we are having at the 'Hurst.

P.S. Next weekend is St. Patrick's Day, and since Mercyhurst is an Irish Catholic Institution, I'll of course be giving you the scoop on all of the festive fun happening around campus!

Saturday, February 11, 2012

Hello Friends!

 
LSC and SAC had a crazy weekend of events. On Friday LSC attended a Men's Hockey game at 7:05 p.m. versus Robert Morris University. LSC gave the game a Wild, Wild, Western theme. The 130ish students that came out to the game got cowbells and trail mix to enjoy while they watched our boys take on RMU. Also on Friday, SAC and the Multicultural Center put on an event called the Old School Hip Hop Party in the Student Union. Some classic jams were played and snacks were served as students danced the night away.
  
  
Erin Jackson
On Saturday SAC was suppose to have the hilarious comedian Erin Jackson grace Weber Hall's Taylor Little Theatre. "Since first making a name for herself at colleges and comedy clubs, Erin's warm, conversational style and relatable humor have helped to propel her onto the national stage. She has performed on the Ellen DeGeneres Show and Comedy Central's Live at Githam, and she was a semifinalist on NBC's Last Comic Standing." However, due to recent weather... a.k.a. the little snow-storm that we and neighboring areas encountered, Erin was not able to make a flight in to perform. So instead SAC put on a Valentine's Day Bingo. Just as many students came out to enjoy a few rounds of bingo and win Valentine's Day themed prizes. Hopefully, we can reschedule a time that works with Erin, to have her come back to campus. To get a little peak at her website, or find out more info about her, click here.

  
Either way, snow or no snow, SAC was able to put on a great weekend of events for Mercyhurst students. As this Winter Term is ending, SAC is preparing for it's final event of the term... Food for Finals! I'll be sure to take pictures and blog about all the details. This term our "special item" is tacos!
  
 
Until then, stay warm!