Brenna Patrick
Staff Writer
The CommUniversity Committee, an organization which links ISU with the Pocatello community, organized and held the fourth annual Welcome Back Orange and Black event Monday, Aug. 26 from 4 to 7 p.m. in the Old Town Pavilion. The event was open for anyone wanting to participate in the fun, whether ISU student, alumni or otherwise.
Students could be picked up from Bengal Creek as well as the Student Health Center on campus in marked buses that said “Welcome Back Orange and Black.”
From the live band Happy Havoc that played throughout the night to the games and raffles, there was something for everyone.
There were roughly 20 vendors who brought “samples of their most popular dishes for people to try,” said CommUniversity Career Path Intern Megan Moore.
Eateries included Buffalo Wild Wings, Café Tuscano, Costa Vida, Fifth Street Bagelry, Jamba Juice, Jimmy Johns, The Chalk Horse and many more.
Basketball and a dunk tank were some of the numerous items on the long agenda of the evening.
“There will also be performances by the Bengal Dancers, cheerleaders, and the ISU Pep Band. And of course Benny the Bengal will be walking around,” said Moore in anticipation of the event.
“There are various types of activities the students, faculty and staff can participate in,” Moore added.
The planning for the event started after CommUniversity’s Celebrate Idaho State event, which was held in April.
CommUniversity members started set-up at 9 a.m. on the day of the event. The vendors arrived around 1 p.m., then everything had to be ready 3:30 said Moore.
Moore also added that there was an extensive list of prizes people could win including parking passes, bookstore certificates, Chartwells meal tickets, a watch by Jensen Jewelers, car washes and an oil change by Grease Monkey, the Idaho Central Credit Union Ruckus scooter and more.
Prizes were available to students, faculty and staff.
“We want this to be their event as much as it is the students’,” said Moore of the decision to include faculty and staff members.
According to Moore, the CommUniversity Committee is comprised of the City of Pocatello, Greater Pocatello Chamber of Commerce, Idaho State Journal, Idaho State University, KPVI TV Channel 6, Old Town Pocatello as well as community volunteers. The Committee Co-Chairs are Valorie Watkins and Jim Johnston, added Moore.
A total of 45 businesses and non-profit organizations had to come together in order to make this event a success. American Red Cross, the Bank of Idaho, CenturyLink, City of Pocatello: Environmental Division, Costco and the Pocatello Fire and Police Departments all contributed.
“This event is put on for the students. It is a chance for Pocatello to show ISU students, faculty and staff what there is for them. Various business buy booths to showcase their business by giving free samples, coupons, discounts and so on. This is the perfect opportunity for students to gather coupons and see who supports the Bengals so they can give their business back to them,” said Moore.
