A group of dancers perform at SpringFest.
A group of dancers perform at SpringFest.

SPRINGFEST, COLLIN’S GOT TALENT ENTERTAIN, EDUCATE WITH FUN

(Above) A group of dancers perform at SpringFest. For more images from SpringFest, visit http://www.collin.edu/webgalleries/springfest2017/index.htm and check out  Facebook.com/CollinCollege.

Hundreds of students took part in the biennial tradition of SpringFest at Spring Creek Campus, April 27, enjoying food, fun and student organization interaction. The outdoor festivities were followed by Collin’s Got Talent, which had a crowd of its own.

Despite starting out a little chilly, the weather turned out well for the event, a turnaround from the day before when Central Park Campus held its Field Day. (Click here for photos from that event.)

The Roof Raisers played tunes for the crowd as students traveled between booths, learning about clubs and organizations, collecting keepsakes and participating in activities meant to engage participants.

Info table at SpringFest
SpringFest was full of games and information tables like this one.

A table for Sigma Kappa Delta, a two-year college English Honor Society, quizzed students on famous books and their authors. Staff from the eCollin Learning Center went for a novel approach to gathering feedback, asking students and faculty to throw bean bags into boxes marked with their favorite features of Canvas online course management software. Across the quad, students sank basketballs at a table designed to get people excited about intramural sports – flag football is coming in the fall and sand volleyball is kicking off soon.

Dozens of similar tables provided links to becoming more involved in the college community or to lend a hand beyond it. The Dignity Initiative table asked students to write letters of encouragement to women who have escaped abusive situations, domestic violence or sex trafficking. For such a serious subject, volunteers said the students really responded well and were eager to take part.

“We are reminding people to just write what is in their hearts,” Professor Karrie Newby, one of the volunteers managing the table, said. “The students are really getting into it.”

Inflatables at SpringFest
This year’s SpringFest included inflatable obstacles and games as well.

People could be seen racing from table to table to participate throughout the event, which began to wind down about 1:30 p.m., so that people could prepare for the next big event of the day – Collin’s Got Talent.

A talent show that runs in conjunction with SpringFest, Collin’s Got Talent returned to the John Anthony Theatre for its second time. Students showcased their talents in front of a packed theatre as they competed for a $1,250 scholarship. Talents ranged from musical performances to tap dancing.  

The first place winner for Collin’s Got Talent was Tashi Dickson, who performed a violin rendition of the song “I Will Exalt” by Bethel Music. Runner up Taylor Scott won a $500 scholarship for her LED Hula Hoop dance routine to “Stay” by Zedd and Alessia Cara.

But students weren’t the only participants of the show. For the first time ever, faculty and staff were also allowed to participate, competing for gift cards to the bookstore. Ultimately, however, the winners donated the cards back to the competition as an extra incentive to the student winners.

Cindy Horstman and Michael Medina took first place with a harp and bass performance of “Fragile” by Sting. Deborah Hall and Matt Coulter of the band Academic Suspension took second with a guitar/vocal performance of “I’m Going to Make You Love Me” by The Temptations. And Jed Harris performed a guitar/vocal medley of songs to earn third place.

If you missed the performances, you can watch them now on our Facebook page, Facebook.com/CollinCollege .