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Gobblerfest Thanks Sponsors, Volunteers, and Attendees

BLACKSBURG, Va., September 2, 2009 – the second annual Gobblerfest, hosted by University Unions & Student Activities (UUSA) on Friday, August 28 at Virginia Tech, and was a resounding success.  An estimated 18,000 people attended the street fair and 3,000 participated in late night activities in Squires Student Center.  “From start to finish, Gobblerfest 2009 drew an enthusiastic response, from those who participated as sponsors, to the many people who provided the support an event this size requires,” said Julie Walters-Steele, director of university unions and a pivotal member of the Gobblerfest planning committee. “Even the weather cooperated, with the morning rain clearing in time for the kickoff of the festival.”

Gobblerfest 2009 surpassed last year’s event in size, scope, and variety:

  • More than 370 student organizations, businesses, non-profit organizations, and Virginia Tech departments registered for the booths that lined the streets from library plaza down College Avenue into the business district. 
  • More than 75 volunteers worked from early morning until late at night, setting up tables and production equipment, providing information to participants, staffing the Gobblerfest headquarters tent, driving shuttle vans, and serving as clean-up crew.  Special thanks to the German Club volunteers for breaking down the tables when the fun was over.
  • Improvisational performances by the Virginia Tech Department of Theatre and Cinema added a new dimension to Gobblerfest entertainment.  The performances were staged on the steps of the new Theatre 101 building on College Ave.
  • A full slate of late night activities in Squires Student Center included a comedian, a movie, a dance party, acoustic music, and novelty give away items.  It was coordinated by Monica Hunter, associate director for campus programs in the department of student activities, with the additional support of the Campus Alcohol Abuse and Prevention Center.
  • An estimated 400 pounds of cans, bottles, glass, and cardboard were collected and recycled, with the help of student volunteers from the Environmental Coalition  and Phi Sigma Pi.
  • Special recognition goes to Coaches Seth Greenberg and Beth Dunkenberger, the HokieBird, and the Residence Hall Federation for serving at the culminating event, a midnight pancake breakfast.

Begun in 2008 as a welcome festival for students, staff, faculty, and community members, in its second year Gobblerfest has become a VT campus tradition. Gobblerfest 2010 will again be part of Hokie Hi activities at the beginning of the fall semester.  For information on how to be involved, visit the Gobblerfest website at www.gobblerfest.org or contact Sandy Broughton at Siemens@vt.edu.

UUSA hosts Gobblerfest in a unique collaboration with a variety of campus, municipal, business, and non-profit partners.  They include the Town of Blacksburg, the Downtown Merchants of Blacksburg, and campus organizations such as the Campus Alcohol Abuse and Prevention Center (CAAPC), the Graduate School at Virginia Tech, VT-Engage, the Student Alumni Association, and the Student Budget Board. Business sponsors that helped fund the event included Champs Restaurant and Sports Bar, Smith’s Landing, SunTrust Bank, and Henebry’s Jewelers.

UUSA, a unit within the Division of Student Affairs at Virginia Tech, complements the academic program by providing a variety of activities, educational opportunities, programs, facilities, and services that enhance student development and enrich the quality of campus life at Virginia Tech. For more information on UUSA activities, visit www.UUSA.vt.edu or email Sandy Broughton at Siemens@vt.edu.

 

 

 

 

 

Pictures from 2009

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