RSA Finale marks end of semester

The third annual Resident Student Association Finale event took place April 27 in the courtyard between Foundation and Parkhurst halls.

The anticipation was high this year; not only was the Thunder Cup given away, but the first ever Study Bucks Auction was held. Study Bucks is a program put on by the National Residence Hall Honorary in order to encourage students to participate in programs the Community Advisors put on as well as study in their residence halls.

Prizes such as an iPod touch, flip camera and 37-inch flat screen television were auctioned and could be bought by students who had earned study bucks.

 

“I have accumulated a lot of study bucks and I’m ready for some prizes,” said Mackenzie Vasina resident of Foundation Hall and freshman undeclared major.

The finale RSA event is open to anyone, but it targets the students living in the residence halls. Students came out to relax on the lawn while enjoying some free food as well as live music.

The winner of the Thunder Cup is the hall or building that wins the most areas of competition: academic, wellness, campus involvement, intramural, service, fine arts, athletics, on-campus involvement, community involvement and eco-awareness. However, the hall or building that wins in each area receives $100 that will go toward their hall the following year.

“This year’s competition was a lot closer than last year’s,” said Justin Stubbs RSA member and senior special education major, “with six halls or buildings winning in at least one area of competition, compared to last year’s four.”

The winner of the last area of competition, the eco-awareness area, was determined through the Thunder Cup Recycling Competition. This area of competition also determined which hall or building became the ultimate Thunder Cup champion.

Village Building 6 took home the win, coming in first in the eco-awareness area of competition as well as the winning the Thunder Cup.

“Building 6 blew away the competition, recycling 459 cans and bottles. The next closest number recycled was 250 cans and bottles by Foundation Hall,” Stubbs said.

“I got to meet a lot of people in my dorm by studying in the community rooms and I even got handed study bucks while doing so,” said Kelsey Minor, resident of Bell Hall.

“What makes Finale the most successful is when the students come out and just have a great time,” RSA president and sophomore marketing major Melissa Reynolds said.