With over 240 student organizations, academic departments, ASUCD units and sports clubs, Day on the Quad will mark another special day in UCD’s centennial birthday celebration this Wednesday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
This year’s Activities Faire 2008, Chamber Day on the Quad, East Quad Farmer’s Market and the Centennial Walk Dedication will collaborate together for a campus celebration on the quad with prizes, giveaways, entertainment and free pizza and drinks.
“It is also a terrific time for all these organizations and businesses to reach out to the campus community and let others know who they are, what they have to offer and how to become involved,” said Rosanne Mandel from the Student Programs and Activities Center.
More than $9,000 worth of prizes will be given away throughout the Quad, including Heavenly Ski lift tickets, Kaplan Test preparation courses, STA Travel vouchers and 180 meal plans from University Dining Commons.
Performers include the Hansori Korean Drummers, The Spokes a cappella group and a medieval fighting demonstration by the Society for Creative Anachronism.
The Aggie Vaulters, a club for members to participate in gymnastics on the back of a moving horse, will also be performing vaulting moves on a barrel to music.
“We will perform vaulting moves on a barrel, which is used to practice such moves before trying them on the horse,” said Aggie Vaulters President Natalie Rathjen-Gonzales in an e-mail interview. “We just love using our imaginations to create routines on a moving horse.“
Cultural Days will be one of the many student organizations tabling in hopes to get more students involved.
“The purpose of Cultural Days is to bring a piece of the student’s culture to UCD and make them feel that they belong here and that there are people of their same culture and ethnicity here,” said Gretel Quintero, assistant manager for Cultural Days. “Cultural Days is also the bridge for the students to cross horizons and learn about other cultures.“
Also present during the Activities Faire portion of Quad Day will be the Help and Education Leading to Prevention (HELP) group, a community service club.
“Our goal is to fight poverty in our local community,” said President of HELP Monisha Paripatyadar in an e-mail interview. “Our motto, ‘Building Leaders, Preventing Poverty, and Helping the Community‘ basically sums up our club.“
HELP’s yearly activities include a Thanksgiving and Holiday Celebration for homeless or low income families throughout Yolo County and a student program called “Progress Ranch” that tutors disadvantaged youth.
The new Centennial Walk in the middle of the quad is scheduled to open at noon with a special ribbon cutting ceremony, remarks by Chancellor Larry Vanderhoef and with a performance by the California Aggie Marching Band-uh!.
If it rains on Wednesday, Quad Day will be rescheduled for Oct. 22.
ANGELA RUGGIERO can be reached at campus@californiaagie.com.
