Preparing for One Final Event

As the semester winds down, much of my focus has been on preparing for my final event as an event coordinator with the Student Planning Committee. On Monday, we will host “Shake the Stress Away” on the Tundra, featuring free milkshakes for students along with a cornhole tournament in partnership with my Facility and Event Management class in sport management. With finals approaching, the goal of the event is simple: give students a chance to take a break, relax and enjoy something fun before the semester ends.

Planning this event has involved a lot of moving pieces, especially on the logistics side. A large part of my preparation has been making sure all of the supplies for the milkshakes are ordered and accounted for. That has meant figuring out how much ice cream, milk, toppings, cups and other materials we need for the number of students we expect. There has been more detail involved than I originally expected, but it has been rewarding seeing the planning come together.

One of my biggest tasks this week has been coordinating our Walmart order pickup for Monday morning. Since the order includes ice cream and milk, timing matters. I have been working through who will pick up the order, how we can keep everything cold and where we can temporarily store supplies until it is time to bring them out to the Tundra. It is one of those behind-the-scenes details students may never think about, but it is a major part of event planning.

I have also been working to get SPC general members signed up to volunteer at the event and help run the milkshake portion. They will assist with serving and keeping things moving smoothly throughout the event. Having volunteers is important, especially for an event built around quick service and student traffic. It has been great seeing members willing to help make the event successful.

I am especially excited about partnering with my Facility and Event Management class for the cornhole tournament. Since I am involved in both SPC and the class, it has been fun seeing those two areas connect for one event. It adds another element to the program and makes it feel more interactive than simply offering milkshakes alone.

What feels a little surreal is realizing this is my final event to host this year. After spending the semester planning events and managing logistics, it feels fitting to close with something centered on fun and community. There is always some stress leading into an event, but seeing everything come together is the part I enjoy most. I am excited to see students out on the Tundra, enjoying milkshakes, playing cornhole and taking a break before finals.