Residence Hall students begin competing for Campus Cup

West Virginia University students living in on-campus residence halls went head-to-head, while hoping the odds would ever be in their favor.

Monday marked the beginning of the 2012 Campus Cup competition. Students from 12 districts (residence halls) came to compete in a "Hunger Games" style event.

Director of Residential Education Trish Cendana said she believes the competition provides first-year students the opportunity to positively transition into life at WVU.

"The Campus Cup is a great way for students to compete with those living in the residence halls with them in a positive spirt," she said. "It’s a great way for students to bond and get acquainted with others in what can sometimes be a stressful time, their first year."

District nine (Bennett Tower) wellness coordinator Grace Honecker said she was excited to see residents in her hall and other halls participate in a healthy alternative while representing the
University’s residence halls.

"This is really just a great way to bring the school, as a community, together," she said.

"As a wellness coordinator, I’m excited to see my nearly 90 students out and about and competing. We have the most participants in the competition. I’m pumped they are all here to support our tower, and our University."

Freshman Amanda King joined the competition with District Seven (Fieldcrest Hall) as a way to relieve the stress of transitioning to life at WVU.

"I just really wanted to get involved," she said. "It can be stressful being a freshman, so I think this is a great way to meet people, have fun and win."

Andrew Merrigan of Bennett Tower said he enjoyed the atmosphere of the competition and found it to be an opportunity to better know the other residents in his tower.

"Everyone is so pumped up. It’s good to be here competing with a positive
attitude," he said. "Everyone here, we’re all freshmen, we’re all in the same position."

"We’re just a bunch of people here trying to meet new people and have fun," he said.

District eight (Honors Hall) Residence Hall Coordinator Jeremiah Kibler said he had high hopes for all students participating in the competition.

"That first week of school is always the hardest transition to make," he said.

"This is the perfect opportunity for students to fight the stress or the homesickness, come out and have fun."

"We are going to be bringing home a victory. Our hall won the first year of this event, and we want a plaque. We’re feeling it."

The first day’s events included an opening ceremony, an over/under water balloon game and tug o’ war.

Various other events will occur throughout the week including a dizzy dash, a basketball shoot out, a health and wellness scavenger hunt and two blood drives.

The District with the most points at the conclusion of the competition will be named Campus Cup Champions at the closing ceremonies.

The closing ceremonies will be held Sept. 10 in the Blue and Gold Rooms of the Evansdale Residential Complex at 7:30 p.m.