Senior picnic offers a joyful goodbye

Student Activities hosts a final fun-filled weekend for graduates before they receive their diplomas

Student Activities (SA) will be hosting the seventh annual Senior Picnic at Camp Hydaway at 4 p.m. May 3.

According to SA’s website, there will be prizes, games, dinner and free shirts at the senior picnic. The event is only for undergraduate, residential seniors. The website also states that students will obtain more details closer to the event.

According to Stephanie Ward, SA associate director who is helping to head up the event, 1,000-1,500 seniors normally attend, and SA expects around that many this year.

“The picnic is a great bonding event for seniors,” Ward said. “It’s just an awesome time to hang out with your friends and other soon-to-be graduates for one of their last weekends here in Lynchburg.”

The food will be traditional cookout food. Hot dogs, hamburgers, pulled barbecue chicken, side dishes, dessert and drinks will be available.

According to Ward, there will be several activities for students to participate in at the picnic. Carnival games, canoes and kayaks, mountain bikes, the Challenge Course, contests, inflatables and other Hydaway attractions will be options for students.

“I am planning on attending,” senior Becca McDonald said. “I’m very excited to go. I’ve looked forward to the picnic since the beginning of the school year. It’s a little bit surreal that it’s my turn to go as a graduating senior, but it’s very exciting, and I’m sure it’ll be a great day. It’s definitely a really great feeling to be able to go after working so hard to graduate these past four years.”

Senior Jessica Jordan is also looking forward to the picnic.

“I personally cannot wait until the senior picnic is here, and I think it is great that the Falwells take an opportunity to celebrate seniors this way,” Jordan said. “I have worked hard for my degree, and the senior picnic is an acknowledgement of not only my success, but my classmates’ success (as well). I can’t wait to go and just have a good time winding down with fellow seniors after all our hard work.”

According to the SA website, seniors should park at Green Hall and take a bus to Camp Hydaway, as there will be no parking available there. Buses will run regularly between 4 p.m. and 8 p.m. from the Tilley Student Center/Tower Theater side of Green Hall.