With over 100 pumpkins and various paints, first-years gathered for the department of alumni relations’ annual first-year pumpkin party. The department hosted the event to connect Trinity University Student Ambassadors (TUSA) with current first-year students by providing snacks, music and painting.

On Oct. 19, the pumpkin party was hosted at the Miller Fountain — a relocation by the alumni relations department (the annual hosts of the event) from the former site at the first-year residential on the lawn between Beze and Herndon. The event’s intention was for students to interact with their TUSA peers who have alumni connections, all while partaking in a fun seasonal activity.

Daniel Andon is the future and young alumni coordinator and co-advisor for TUSA in the department of alumni relations development, bridging current and future alumni. Andon expressed that the pumpkin party provides a simple and relaxing activity in combination with avenues for networking.

“One of the main goals of this event is to build the community that Trinity has, but also make the foundation of a network for our students to work with,” Andon said. “They have been loving the event. They love getting the chance to just relax in the sun, paint with their friends and the best part: it being free.”

Though the party was overseen by Trinity staff like Andon, the event was largely coordinated by members of TUSA. Xae Alva, sophomore English major, is a member of TUSA. Alva was the committee chair for the event, ensuring plentiful supplies, acting as a liaison with facility services and advertising the party to first-year students. Alva envisioned a social gathering that brought first-year students together in the midst of their first semester on campus.

“I wanted this event to be a really good chance for the first-years to come together and mingle and meet more first-years,” Alva said.

Along with bringing together students, Alva said the pumpkin party increases student engagement with TUSA. Because TUSA consistently interacts with alumni, events like the pumpkin party bridge the gap between current and future Trinity alumni. TUSA volunteers were scattered across the event, mingling with first-year students and engaging in the festivities.

“We also want to get people involved in this organization and just bring some attention to us and the types of things we do,” Alva said.

Emily Kent, first-year neuroscience major, attended this year’s pumpkin party with a group of her friends. Kent heard about the pumpkin party through Trinity’s daily newsletter, LeeRoy, and decided to come because it sounded fun. Though she did not get to meet any new students while at the party, she enjoyed the opportunity to spend time with her friends in a fun environment.

“Hanging out with my lovely friends is definitely great,” Kent said. “I think it is definitely fun … it’s cute.”

When walking by the Miller Fountain, you would not expect to see the Lorax, Spider-Man and Van Gogh’s Starry Night, but walking by the first-year pumpkin party, you could see all of these things — on pumpkins. Participants submitted their designs for a chance to win one of five candy-filled bowls or mason jars, each associated with a category: most unique, cutest, scariest, silliest and most artistic. The winners were announced on the TUSA Instagram with the entry number and picture of the winning pumpkin. The competition was done through Instagram to boost student engagement with the TUSA social media account (@tusambassadors).

Much of the success of the event was attributed to the advertising done by TUSA. Andon said that the department would propose the Miller Fountain as the annual location for the event due to its aesthetic success.

The pumpkin party continues to connect TUSA and the department of alumni relations to Trinity’s first-years. Though the pumpkin party was intentionally programmed for first-year students, those who passed by were welcomed to participate — accommodated for by the preemptive purchasing of extra pumpkins.

“It’s just us giving back to our community — our Trinity community,” Alva said.