More than 300 students gathered at Dallas College Brookhaven Campus for Spring Fest, this time specifically a celebration held in honor of the college’s 60th anniversary. It featured music, food, games, interactive activities and giveaways.
Held on March 25 and hosted by Michelle Hamman, coordinator for student engagement programs and initiatives, the event included attractions such as bull riding, vendor tents, popcorn and nachos, drawing steady crowds throughout the day. The soft breeze filled the air with a faint smell of buttery popcorn, hot dogs and jalapeños from the nacho stand available for attendees.
“We were very fortunate because we have a great network of people who always help with programs, and I’m grateful that a lot of colleagues, especially in the S building, come to my rescue when I need help,” Hamman said. The festival she had been planning a year in advance finally started with a 6 a.m. set up.
Psychology, sociology and anthropology faculty Shamekia Thomas was one of the spring festival volunteers who helped make the event possible.
“My participation in the event was helping Michelle with the event setup,” Thomas said. “I decided to help at the event because I think it is important for faculty members to support student activities and engagement events.”
Thomas said she noticed that many students who participated in the event seemed to have enjoyed the opportunity to celebrate with others.
Students waited in short lines for refreshments, with the longest line being for the caricature drawings. Caricature artist Neil Asher, who has been drawing for over 20 years, said he enjoyed attending the spring festival. Hamman also hired Ruth Hara, an additional caricature artist, to manage anticipated traction.
Another tent at the event, hosted by talk about it Texas, offered free sexual health education programs for female students ages 18 – 24. It covered topics such as birth control, STI testing and communication with healthcare providers. The program was led by Kiara Confidente, who holds a Bachelor of Science in public health with a concentration in community education.
The bull riding attraction proved especially popular among guests. The activity was operated by Willy Jermany and Peyton Bradely, who travel to schools across Texas. They have been participating in events like spring festival for more than 10 years.
“One of the hardest parts of planning an event is getting an estimated count of attendees so that we have enough food and support for the students,” Hamman said.
Organizers said they have seen increased attendance in recent years and hope to continue expanding the festival in the future.
