Simpson’s Sweet 16 Brings Students Together Through Campus Traditions
- Ryan Gavin
- Sep 22
- 3 min read
By Ryan Gavin
Connection, fun, and lasting memories; the hallmark of campus life at Simpson.
One month in, and Simpson University has already seen three of its Sweet 16 events; Kickball Kick-off, Block Party, and the ever-growing Fall Flick.
Why does Simpson host these events?
“To get people out of their rooms and involved,” said Noah Bryerton, Simpson’s Director of Campus Life. “The easiest, low risk way to do that is to come to campus events.”
Bryerton was a student at Simpson until 2023 and understands the importance of a tight-knit college community.
“One of the reasons I do this job is because I want students to make memories that are going to last a lifetime,” he said
“My two years as a Simpson student were two of the most fun years of my life, so I want to give back to the community that gave so much to me,” Bryerton said.
Simpson hosts 16 events each year, compiled of two semesters with their own ‘Elite 8’. Each event has a unique theme or activity. The events range from athletic, to theatre, games, and even fancy dress!
Sean Rodriguez, Simpson’s ASBSU President, said “I’ve seen the integration of all the different student groups we have on campus. I see basketball, worship team, soccer, student leaders, and other groups coming together and creating their college experience in a healthy and meaningful way.”
The most attended event of the year so far was the Block Party, with 425 students at the event.
Block Party filled the boulevard with booths, cornhole, games, and a 27-foot water slide. It is held on the first Friday of each fall semester and allows new students to mingle with returners.
Karan Poudeli, a second-year international student from Nepal, currently works for the Campus Activities Board (CAB).
“Having the events on campus helps students know that they are not here just for classes and labs, but that the campus is a place for fun,” Poudeli said.
His first event as a CAB member, Water Wars, was not part of the annual Sweet 16. Instead, it was part of this year’s New Student Orientation.
Over 100 students attended the event, making for a successful inauguration.
“After rafting fell through, we pivoted to an on-campus fun event that would get new and returning students to come out and have fun,” Bryerton said.
The event was held on-campus, which meant no commute for students in campus residences.
“There will be more participation and on-campus resources will be utilized,” said Poudeli about events moving from off-campus to on-campus locations.
Fall Flick, which was hosted on Friday, Sept. 12, saw a change in location as well. Normally taking place outside of the Bean Scene, it was moved into the gym.
“We wanted a change of scenery and feel like the gym is an underutilized space,” Bryerton said.
Improving from 90 attendees to 117, the move has already proven effective.
just three events in, what can students expect for the remainder of the year?
From familiar favorites such as Trivia Night, Boat Regatta, and the annual Homecoming dance, to new additions like the 5-minute Film Festival in the Spring, Simpson is trying to create an atmosphere where students can feel comfortable and have fun within their community.
An old favorite will also be making a comeback this Fall. Something Epic, an event where students don’t know what it is until they get there.
Bryerton will be leading an ambitious group of students in this year’s CAB team. In addition to Poudeli, the team is made up of Kaedyn Bunn, Gracelyn Lovejoy, Julian Nessi, Max Wheeler, Keegan Lagos, Ines Moreno, Elizabeth Aleo, and Addison Jones.
They are the student-leaders that help make these events possible. From setup to teardown, they run the events and ensure they run smoothly.
Comments