by Stephanie Davidsen
Every year, Student Honors Council puts on several key events, including Honors Week—a week-long event featuring a different activity every night, and ending with the Honors Formal.
For the last few years, Honors Week has taken place towards the end of the spring semester, but this year it was moved to the fall, according to Carson Weingart, SHC’s president.
“The officers and I decided that the week might be more successful if it functioned as a welcome event,” Weingart said. "We had always faced issues with weather when having it in the spring, and we figured that having it in the fall would allow us to do more outdoor activities.”
More students than ever before attended this year’s Honors Week, according to Weingart, which was named “Fall Fest” and featured fall-themed events from Monday through Friday. So many students showed up on Campfire Monday for s’mores and pumpkin decorating that the SHC members staffing the event said they ran out of supplies.
The Fall Craft Fest attracted more than 50 students to DeHority’s lobby Tuesday afternoon, according to SHC members. Attendees decorated paper pumpkins and made 2D scarecrows – complete with straw – to hang on their doors during the fall season.
When asked what her favorite event was, freshman Megan Crosier said “Door decoration for sure, I love crafts. The door decorations were great.”
Wednesday’s comedy improv event, “Whose Thanksgiving is it Anyway?” featured groups of students willing to take the stage and act out scenes assigned to them on the spot.
The Talent Show on Thursday showcased skills and tricks mastered by Honors students.
According to Weingart, Fall Fest “showed a much higher turnout in the fall” than in the spring, and prompted SHC officers to make the move permanent. Weingart said Honors Week will be held during the fall in future years.
If anything didn’t go as well as planned, it was Friday’s Backyard Bash, a party in the backyard of the Honors House featuring food, games and a live band. Decorations hung from trees and snacks including candy corn, apple cider and more were ready to go, but student attendance was much lower than expected, according to SHC members at the event.
SHC sophomore Katie Norman attended the Backyard Bash.
“It was poorly timed with it being family weekend,” Norman said.
Weingart agreed.
“Many students preferred to spend the evening with their parents,” Weingart said. “Next year, we will definitely keep the Friday event away from Family Weekend.”
Before then, Weingart said SHC will have a chance to improve with the Honors Formal this spring. The Honors Formal did not make the move to the fall and instead will be its own event to cap off the spring semester.
Because of its place in the fall, Weingart said incoming freshmen had an early chance to see what SHC is and what it does.
SHC has more members this year than any year before, and Weingart said he has high hopes for the group as it prepares for the rest of its fall and spring events.
For the last few years, Honors Week has taken place towards the end of the spring semester, but this year it was moved to the fall, according to Carson Weingart, SHC’s president.
“The officers and I decided that the week might be more successful if it functioned as a welcome event,” Weingart said. "We had always faced issues with weather when having it in the spring, and we figured that having it in the fall would allow us to do more outdoor activities.”
More students than ever before attended this year’s Honors Week, according to Weingart, which was named “Fall Fest” and featured fall-themed events from Monday through Friday. So many students showed up on Campfire Monday for s’mores and pumpkin decorating that the SHC members staffing the event said they ran out of supplies.
The Fall Craft Fest attracted more than 50 students to DeHority’s lobby Tuesday afternoon, according to SHC members. Attendees decorated paper pumpkins and made 2D scarecrows – complete with straw – to hang on their doors during the fall season.
When asked what her favorite event was, freshman Megan Crosier said “Door decoration for sure, I love crafts. The door decorations were great.”
Wednesday’s comedy improv event, “Whose Thanksgiving is it Anyway?” featured groups of students willing to take the stage and act out scenes assigned to them on the spot.
The Talent Show on Thursday showcased skills and tricks mastered by Honors students.
According to Weingart, Fall Fest “showed a much higher turnout in the fall” than in the spring, and prompted SHC officers to make the move permanent. Weingart said Honors Week will be held during the fall in future years.
If anything didn’t go as well as planned, it was Friday’s Backyard Bash, a party in the backyard of the Honors House featuring food, games and a live band. Decorations hung from trees and snacks including candy corn, apple cider and more were ready to go, but student attendance was much lower than expected, according to SHC members at the event.
SHC sophomore Katie Norman attended the Backyard Bash.
“It was poorly timed with it being family weekend,” Norman said.
Weingart agreed.
“Many students preferred to spend the evening with their parents,” Weingart said. “Next year, we will definitely keep the Friday event away from Family Weekend.”
Before then, Weingart said SHC will have a chance to improve with the Honors Formal this spring. The Honors Formal did not make the move to the fall and instead will be its own event to cap off the spring semester.
Because of its place in the fall, Weingart said incoming freshmen had an early chance to see what SHC is and what it does.
SHC has more members this year than any year before, and Weingart said he has high hopes for the group as it prepares for the rest of its fall and spring events.