Traditions Continued in New Formats this Spring

The Office of Student Leadership and Service (SLS), other College Programs staff, and student leaders worked together to help reduce the disappointment caused by not being able to have many of Meredith’s traditional spring events as they were originally planned.

Events were re-imagined and creative social media initiatives were launched. The goal was to find ways for students to participate virtually in new ways to build community and find moments to have some fun.

The Crook Hunt was held through a Crook Hunt Instagram account. The seniors posted clues each day for a week. Each day that clues are posted Juniors who guessed the Crook’s location were entered into a drawing to win a gift card.

The Meredith Recreation Association hosted an online version of Stunt through a social media campaign that encouraged students to create a TikTok, Instagram post, or Twitter post of them doing something fun outside on the original date of Stunt, April 17. In one example, members of the Class of 2020 produced a social distance version of lip sync. https://youtu.be/S2NQREPraPo

Rising juniors were able to attend a virtual Big Sister Boot Camp training prior to enrolling as a Big Sister in the Big Sister/Little Sister Program.

The Residents Housing Association sponsored an online movie party/viewing of A Cinderella Story.

The Freshman Fire and Water Dinner (sponsored by the Office of First Year Experience) offered a sneak peek virtual event on the Class of 2023 Facebook group on April 29, with a tentative plan to move the event to a date in fall 2020.

Tea for Two for the sophomore class has been postponed to Saturday, September 19at  the Crabtree Valley Marriott. Members of the Class of 2022 will receive additional emailed instructions from the Tea for Two co-chairs with further event details.

The Student Life Committee held a virtual forum to address questions/concerns from the student body on April 22nd.  Administrators participated in the virtual forum to answer questions.

On April 24, Student Leadership and Service hosted an online induction of the SGA President for 2020-21 and new student leaders, followed by a virtual workshop called “The Resilient Leader in You!” with Dr. Joy Gaston Gayles from the NCSU Department of Higher Education Administration.

Meredith Activities Board hosted “Zoom Yoga” on Friday, May 1 at 10 a.m. as a relaxation event for the Last Day of Classes.

The Office of Student Leadership and Service used Instagram (@MeredithSLS) to stay connected with students. The new initiatives included Motivation Monday, with fun quotes and other motivating photos, #WithmyQuarenTIME Wednesday as an opportunity for students to tell others what they have been doing with their “extra” time, and then Fun Post Friday to end the week. Every other week they offered a fun activity live on Fridays. The other weeks featured a fun or silly post. Daily on their story have been posting suggestions for Boredom Busters to help pass the time – TikToks, Netflix suggestions, playlists, videos, or anything else that a student wants to do to be engaged in this way.

In addition to the College Programs events above, there was a virtual Celebrating Student Achievement Day on YouTube and a virtual fashion and culture show sponsored by the Meredith International Association (MIA).