On Saturday the 29th of September, PSU had its annual Harvest Festival in celebration of Homecoming weekend. The Alumni Green was filled with various students, parents, teachers, and alumni enjoying the different activities set up and run by a handful of PSU’s student clubs and organizations.
The Early Childhood Club showed their homecoming spirit with a doughnut eating contest table. With an assortment of 174 donuts, club members Lauren West, Meagan Ames and Amanda Thornton brought creativity to the table with their set up for the contests by suspending the baked treats directly above the contestants.
Everyone who participated laughed uncontrollably as their friends took pictures and people walking by watched with amusement as contestants raced, and struggled, to eat the doughnuts.
Most of the other tables had ‘make your own’ items such as pet rocks, sand art, and street signs. PACE’s street sign making table was a hit throughout the festival and they even had to cut the line off towards the end of the event.
First year student Kyle Fisk, also known from First Year Orientation as “Sweetness”, showed real spirit by sporting all green PSU gear. While standing in line for a street sign, Fisk said “There’s a lot of clubs out here and a lot of variety. There’s a lot more offered here than there was in high school.”
Taking on the role of the DJ and keeping everyone’s spirits up was ITS’s own Chad Johanson. Revealing his musical side, Johanson brought his own sound equipment and played popular songs. When asked about how he was selecting songs Johanson smiled and said, “I’m sticking with the fun, lively 90’s. Who doesn’t love the 90’s right?”
Homecoming is the perfect way for PSU alumni to get back in touch with their classmates. Circled around each other on the lawn was a group of fifth year alumni including Sonya Desmond and Tim Haroutanian. They were gathered together reminiscing about their times at Plymouth and discussing some of the things that have changed since they were students. With a huge smile on his face Haroutanian said, “I’m just happy to be back”.
Also walking around enjoying the festival was alumna from the Class of 2012, Nicole Petrin. Petrin is the 2012 recipient of the Alumni Award, which is given to a recent graduate who was highly involved on campus as a student and whose work is still making an impact. Petrin laughed as she noted that this was the “fifth year my parents have come to Homecoming”.
Enjoying time with family is what Homecoming is all about. It’s a great experience to bring alumni back to campus or to bring some people from your original home to your new home at PSU. ITS team member Dillon Crowly stood proudly next to his mom, who when talking about her drive up to PSU smiled and said, “I love the mountains and how when you come into Plymouth, there’s that strip of road and you know you’re here”.