On Tuesday, Aug. 29, UCA’s Minority Mentorship Program hosted a night filled with fun, fellowship and laughter with a Family Feud game night in the Ronnie Williams Student Center Ballroom.
“I loved the environment,” Freshman Hailey Molden said. “Honestly, it was so welcoming. Especially when mentors would come introduce themselves or spark conversation.”
The event was a part of MMP’s Transitions Week, where it hosts various events on campus to help freshmen students transition into the new fall semester.
Once MMP mentees arrived, they were met with mentors’ smiling faces, introducing themselves. The mentors and mentees mingled before the Family Feud game began.
“I enjoyed getting to know some of the incoming freshmen because it’s always nice to see them so happy to be around us and excited to be on campus,” senior and MMP mentor Shuntia Hunter said.
One half of the ballroom hosted the Family Feud with a traditional set-up for two families, while the other half had numerous other games for students to play.
There were two teams at separate tables, each with a buzzer. One team consisted of students, while the other team consisted of staff and faculty members.
The two teams went head-to-head to answer campus-related survey questions such as, “Where do students go to release stress on campus?” and “What is the hardest building to find on campus?”
Most of the students and faculty responded to the question with Doyne Health Sciences Center but were surprised when the most popular answer was Win Thompson Hall.
After each round, the teams switched out participants, so everyone who wanted to participate got a chance to compete in the Family Feud game.
While students waited to play, round tables with different card games, including Uno and Spades, were available.
Riva Brown, associate professor of public relations, appreciated the chance to network with new students.
“I enjoyed interacting with students I don’t get to spend time with every week in the classroom, especially incoming freshmen,” Brown said.
MMP serves as a safe space for students of color on campus. Many students said they attended the event to meet more people of color.
“Black students need to see faculty and staff members who look like them,” Brown said when asked why she chose to participate in the event.
“Representation matters in higher education. I hope students realize that they have a strong support system of people on campus who look like them and can relate to them. We are here to help them succeed and excel,” Brown said.
MMP also had a silent headphone disco party on Aug. 30 at the Farris Center.
