Gianna Micieli ‘30
Staff Writer
On Thursday October 29th, HC Swellness, also known as The Office of Student Wellness Education, and the Ciampi-Condron RAs put a spooky spin on their Thrive Thursday tradition. The night was complete with pumpkin carving and painting, a costume contest, cider and donuts from Tougas Farm, and an incredible chance to win some awesome prizes.
The night began with students picking out their favorite pumpkin to either carve or decorate. Students were given a choice whether to paint or carve their pumpkin, and each team or individual who participated had about 1 hour to complete their masterpiece. The pumpkins were then judged by a panel of Swellness volunteers and Ciampi-Condron RAs, including RA Alexa, RA JJ, and RA Fiona, who ranked their top 3 pumpkins. The prizes for the top 3 winners of the pumpkin decorating contest consisted of a lego set, a moon shaped Jelly Cat stuffed animal, and a projector.
Then, students who came in their top-tier costumes were able to participate in a costume contest and model-walking experience. Students got to pick a walk-up song, and strutted down the runway in their costumes. Prizes for the costume contest were a comfy blanket-jacket, a lego set, and a JBL speaker. The criteria for the costume contest winners ranged from funniest costume to most creative costume.
As for my own experience with Carve After Dark, and with Ciampi and Swell in general, every event or experience that I have participated in has been unique and fun, each providing me with a sense of community and place within Holy Cross. I truly believe that The Office of Student Wellness and all of their programs and efforts truly align and help in supporting the College’s mission of Cura Personalis, or “care for the whole person”. One thing that has really stood out to me is that for almost every event that the HC Swellness Instagram has promoted, they say “bring your friends, or find new ones”. This message, alongside the idea of Cura Personalis, is incredibly important for college students to hold close and be reminded of, as they transition to and work through college life.
In conversation with Fiona, one of the Resident Assistants to Ciampi-Condron Hall, she shared similar feelings of community, and further expanding this community. RA Fiona shared, “I hope to see more non-ciampi residents at events, particularly freshman. I think there are a lot of great opportunities available if you have the courage to swing by!”
Furthermore, I even had the opportunity to win “Funniest Costume” at the Carve After Dark event. I model walked to “Empire State of Mind” by Jay-Z featuring Alicia Keys, dressed as the Statue of Liberty. I won a purple comfy, and now have incredible bragging rights! Additionally, I was able to participate in the pumpkin carving contest, where my team and I decided to carve the iconic “Hyperpigmentation” Tiktok sensation and meme into our pumpkin. The judges were pleased with our valiant effort and niche internet references, however we unfortunately did not come home with the 1st place pumpkin decorating prize.
If students are interested in becoming more involved with Ciampi-Condron Hall, they can apply to be an RA during winter break when the application opens. RA Fiona shares and recommends that if students are interested, they should come “to as many events as you can in Ciampi to see how we do things!”
Featured image courtesy of HC Swellness Instagram
Copy edited by Emma Bono ’30
Leave a Reply