Dean College hosts Annual Awpie Festival

Del’s lemonade cup in front of Dean Hall during Awpie Fest Photo Courtesy: Dean Daily

Dean College hosted its annual Awpie Festival on Saturday for both returning and first-year students. The small festival offered a variety of activities, including football, cornhole, and a giant connect four. These fun activities were set against the backdrop of a warm August day with a slight breeze. For those who were thirsty from the warm summer heat, Dean College hosted a Del's lemonade truck, offering free drinks to our community.

Del’s lemonade truck is located outside of Memorial Hall. Students line up to receive a free drink. Photo Courtesy: Dean Daily

Orientation leaders also displayed a dean-themed paint-by-numbers mural for students. The mural will be hung in the Dr. Paula M. Rooney Student Center. Many first-year students also had the opportunity to create their own hats. Located outside the Green Family Library Learning Commons, the stand had a variety of options that allowed students to design and customize their hats. Overall, the day was enjoyable for those who wanted to sit outside and relax before the Fall semester commenced.

First-year student painting on dean theme paint number mural outside the Green Family Library Learning Common. Photo Courtesy: Dean Daily

What was the Awpie Fest, and how does it connect new students to our community? Emma Mero (Director of Student Engagement and First-Year Programs) said that “Awpie Fest was an event that was a part of Bulldog Beginnings. The goal of Bulldog Beginnings is to welcome new students to campus and give them the opportunity to get acquainted with academic and campus life before the start of the year... About 150 students came out to enjoy the sun. It's great that students were able to attend an event during their first weekend in the same place where they will graduate in a few years.”

Three first-year students play giant connect four during Awpie Fest. Photo Courtesy: Dean Daily

One of the first-year students who attended the festival, Jake Conceicao, gave his take on how it resonated with his colleagues: “Awpie Fest was an effective way to help new students get to know each other and feel more comfortable on campus. It created a welcoming atmosphere that encouraged people to step out of their comfort zones and interact with others...”

Jake noted that there should have been a little more variety of activities to keep new students engaged longer. However, he said that this was just a minor issue, and overall, it was a great experience for him and for newcomers here at Dean College. “While I felt there could have been a wider variety of activities to keep everyone engaged for a longer period of time, the ones that were available were well received. Many students seemed to be having fun, laughing, and making new connections, which is exactly what an event like this should aim to achieve. Overall, it was a positive experience that played an important role in building a sense of community.”