The Student Alumni Association will host a Halloween Festival for children, the community and anyone willing to have some Halloween fun.
On Tuesday, Oct. 6 from 5 to 8 p.m. on the lawn in front of Alumni Hall. The event is open to any community members, free of charge.
“It is something we put on annually for the children of the community, providing a safe and fun holiday environment for them,” said Jennifer Strack, vice president of Student Alumni Association Community Service.
Children are encouraged to come out dressed in their Halloween best for some fun games and candy. Activities on the schedule for Tuesday include a moon bounce, carnival-style games and a cookie and cupcake decorating station. SAA members will be dressed up as well, overseeing the different activities.
The SAA serves as a support group for the National Alumni Association. Made up of around 80 members, it is a student organization that serves as an ambassador between the student body and alumni, according to Vice President Luke Brechtelsbauer.
“We feel that it is important to make sure there is a strong connection between the two groups because there is a lot that students can learn from individuals who have already experienced four years at the Capstone.”
Not only does the organization work to create bonds between the students and alumni, but SAA also hopes to build relationships between the University of Alabama and the Tuscaloosa community.
“One of the goals of SAA is to reach out to the community, and the Festival allows us to do this while giving back to the community via the children,” Strack said.
SAA reaches out to various facets of the Tuscaloosa community. According to their website, SAA sponsors events such as the Halloween Festival, as well as participating in Relay for Life and making frequent visits to Capstone Village, a local retirement community. SAA has held a “Senior Prom,” an evening of dancing and playing games, at Capstone Village in the past, as well as holding game nights at other Tuscaloosa area retirement homes.
“As a student ambassador group, we feel that it is important to give back to the people of Tuscaloosa. After all, the University of Alabama wouldn’t be as great as it is without receiving all sorts of support from the surrounding community.”
The Halloween Festival is free, funded by SAA through yearly fundraisers and outside donations, Strack said.
According to the SAA website, saa.ua.edu, the organization designs and sells T-shirts around campus and plans events like dodgeball tournaments to raise money.
