Bryant University Collegiate Entrepreneurs' Organization

On Friday, October 17th, The Collegiate Entrepreneurs' Organization held its annual charitable event-Pumpkin Fest. Three hundred-fifty pumpkins arrived via U-Haul at 9am, and almost all of them had been carved or painted by 5:30 that afternoon. CEO footed the bill for the entire event, and all proceeds went to Camp Sunshine, a camp for terminally ill children and their families.

The event raised over 1,100 dollars and was a huge success. When students arrived, they were asked to make a small donation to Camp Sunshine. They could use cash or their dining dollars. Students moved along the assembly-line style event--first to the Decapitating section, then to the Gutting section, and finally to the Carving section. Students also had the option to skip over the decapitating and gutting sections by picking up a pre-gutted pumpkin. Also, they could paint a pumpkin.

Many faculty members donated to Camp Sunshine, and some participated in the event. CEO E-board members were also "pied" in the face with a mixture of pumpkin guts and whipped cream for a donation of three to five dollars. Also, many students, parents, and facility members decided to donate money without carving a complimentary pumpkin.

The day resulted in many creative pumpkins that were all lined up along the pond. At the lighting ceremony at 6pm, the pumpkins were lit. Bryant's Velocity Dance Team danced at 6:15, and the prizes were announced shortly afterwards. The top four pumpkins were awarded various gift cards, including a 150 dollar cash prize, a 25 dollar gift card to the bookstore, and a 15 dollar Starbucks card.

Pumpkin Fest also got a lot of press-including the locaol NBC television station, The Providence Journal, Smithfield Magazine and the Breeze. The event was coordinated by joint Event Planners Emily Murphy and Haley Trenholm.

The Collegiate Entrepreneurs' Organization is always looking for dynamic, creative people to join. They meet on Thursdays at 5pm in Papitto.