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Elkins – As the warm days and cool nights help Mother Nature change into her colorful cloak across the mountains, autumn activities are offering a time of enjoyment for SA���ʴ�ý students, and families and friends are joining in to make the season all the more special.

Each month throughout the academic year Parent Relations Coordinator Lisa Senic takes orders from parents and friends for themed care packages to distribute to students. Orders for October with a focus on Halloween have hit an all-time high. While parents have purchased packages for their children, they’re also adding their children’s roommates to the list. Others have extended more good will by purchasing a package and asking that it be distributed to a student who may be having a difficult time this semester.

“You always hear about the family atmosphere at SA���ʴ�ý and that sentiment certainly came through with the Halloween Care Packages this year,” said SA���ʴ�ý Vice President for Student Affairs Scott Goddard. “On multiple occasions this semester, Ms. Senic heard requests to prepare extra care packages. In these trying times, it is stories like these that warm the heart.”

A total of 42 bags are filled with assorted Halloween candy, Halloween themed items – a movie, cookie cutter or door decorations, a dozen fresh baked cookies, trail mix/sunflower seeds, caramel apples, apple juice and a personalized greeting card. Students will receive a text from Senic on Monday letting them know they may pick up their package.

To celebrate the weekend, the Office of Student Life and Senator Entertainment will host the Great SA���ʴ�ý Pumpkin Fest for students. Earlier in the week, Goddard and Director of Dining Services Scotty Marshall delivered 75 large pumpkins to campus to prepare for the events.

“Campus activities and Student Life provide students a sense of belonging and connection on campus through involvement in student organizations and campus-wide events,” Goddard explained. “COVID-19 has made our ability to connect challenging and has forced us to find non-traditional ways to maintain a sense of community from a distance. One piece of advice I was given when I started my career in campus activities and student affairs was to plan for the unexpected and always have a plan B, C and D.  Well, I think we are on plan M this semester. The Great SA���ʴ�ý Pumpkin Festival is one of these very events and it forced Senator Entertainment to get creative.”

On Friday, from 6-8 p.m., fall flavors will abound with warm pumpkins spice waffle bowls, pumpkin butter ice cream with carmel apple drizzle sauce, candied pumpkin seeds, hot cider and hot cocoa. The event is sponsored by Senator Entertainment and presented by Tyler “T-Claw” Crawford.

On Saturday, from 6-8 p.m., Timms Lounge and the Davis Trust Company Patio will be the hot spots for fun with The Jack O ‘Lantern Blaze sponsored by Senator Entertainment.

All activities are free and open to SA���ʴ�ý students only.

Vice President for Student Affairs Scott Goddard and Director of Dining Services Scotty Marshall deliver 75 pumpkins to campus in preparation of the Great SA���ʴ�ý Pumpkin Fest this weekend.

The Office of Student Life is filled with Halloween care packages ready for students to pick up on Monday. Orders for this month reached a record high of 42.