Exercise and recovery are vital pieces of everyday life for students at Washburn. Whether it’s walking to class or going to the gym, every student deserves an opportunity to move their bodies in a way that is healthy and safe. The Student Recreation and Wellness Center aims to complete this exact mission with their Rock the Rec event.
On Monday, Aug. 19, the Rec was open for all students to enjoy fun and engaging activities. There were plenty of games on the facility’s court, such as basketball, volleyball and even tug of war. Nayely Salas, a senior exercise and rehabilitation science major, commented that her favorite part of the event was the volleyball competitions.
“I really enjoyed playing volleyball, I went up there seven times. I could’ve won more, but I won my shirt so I would definitely come back to do this again next year,” Salas said.
However, the Rec’s event had more than just games on the court. There was a stress ball making station, giveaways, a photo booth and even esports.
“I really enjoyed this event, and my favorite part was going to the photo booth and getting pictures with my friends,” said Lauren Frank, a senior physics major. “I would definitely come again if given the chance.”
Saul Ayala, art major, concurred.
“My favorite part was the Orbeez station … and I wouldn’t change anything about the event,” Ayala said.
Alyssa Hannigan, a sophomore elementary education major, was also involved in the stress ball activity except she was on the employee side of things.
“When I worked over at the stress ball station, a lot of people and I were just starting random conversations,” Hannigan said.
The Weeks of Welcome here at Washburn seem to be off to a great start with the Rec’s kick-off event. The building was full of buzz and chatter and students enjoyed the activities. When asked about Monday’s turnout, Hannigan added that the event had a great turnout, with over 450 attendees, and the staff was able to sell all of their t-shirts. The Rec employees made the event increasingly smoother.
“Setting up the event was honestly pretty easy; we had a lot of workers. And it was a lot of fun to work here,” Hannigan said.
The Rock the Rec event was an incredible success with optimal attendacne and engaging activities that promoted meaningful conversations between students. With numerous games and giveaways, there was fun for everyone, students and employees alike.
