 "Photo: Office of Public Relations/Jon Cox")
 "Photo: Office of Public Relations/Jon Cox")
The heavy rain did not prevent the class of 2008 from celebrating together one last time before graduation. The sixth annual Senior Day, normally held on the North Green, took place in the Trabant University Center Multipurpose rooms Friday afternoon from 2 to 5 p.m.
The Student Government Association and Student Centers Programming Advisory Board co-sponsored the event. Seniors wore sparkly, gold 2008 sunglasses as they listened to Kristen and the Noise, ate free hotdogs and soft pretzels, jumped around in an inflatable moonbounce, competed in jousting competitions and mingled with old friends.
Marylyn Prime, director of the Student Centers and SGA adviser, said 1,100 students registered for the event, which is a lower number than in the past.
"It is hard to gauge the number of seniors in attendance," Prime said. "A lot more people tend to participate than register."
She said it would have been a lot better to have the event outside.
"A sunny day, blue sky, people on the grass listening to music - bringing it inside loses that kind of excitement," Prime said. "But students are still having a great time. I see a lot of happy seniors."
Students who registered online were also eligible to win a wide assortment of prizes, including gift certificates to various Newark restaurants, a mountain bike, a Gateway monitor, TiVos, and a flat-screen TV. The grand prize was a red, two-door Pontiac G5 from NuCar Pontiac Buick GMC, she said.
"The very first Senior Day we had a car, and then that option wasn't made available until again until this year," Prime said.
Senior Nicole Horne was shocked when she won the car.
"I was in the moon bounce when they called my name," Horne said. "I don't know what I'm going to do with it, but it's still really nice."
She said she found Senior Day fun and entertaining.
"I went last year because I am a fifth year senior, but this year was much better because I won a car."
Comedians Todd Blass and Seth Kirschner, university alumni from the class of 2005 and former members of the Rubber Chickens, emceed the event. The pair was energetic and entertained the crowd with their comedic antics as they announced the winners of the various prizes in between the band's sets.
Blass, one of Conan O'Brien's personal assistants and a performer at the Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre since 2005, said Mike "The Miz" Mizanin from MTV's the Real World emceed his Senior Day.
"I remember him constantly having two different girls on his arms," Blass said.
Kirschner plays Brook Shield's assistant, Josh, in NBC's series "Lipstick Jungle," performs at the Upright Citizens Brigade comedy club in New York City and appears in several nationally televised commercials, including the "Magical Amount" for the "Truth" anti-tobacco commercial. He said he and Blass were honored and also shocked when the university asked them to emcee Senior Day.
"We were like, 'Really? You want us? Are you sure you have the right people?' " Kirschner said. "Eventually after deliberation we said, 'Let's do it. Let's have fun.' "
He said the crowd was responsive and supportive of his and Blass' skits.
"As cliché as it sounds it is good to see the friends we have that are graduating," Kirschner said.
Blass said he and Kirschner originally planned to come to Senior Day dressed in tuxedos pretending to emcee a day for senior citizens.
"We were going to play games associated with senior citizens and play old music, but it would have seemed too planned," he said. "We were like, 'This is about them, not us.' "
Senior Kate Tuoni took part in one of Blass and Kirschner's skits. She competed in a jousting competition and won a box filled with prizes from the comedic duo.
"I never jousted before, but I thought it was fun," Tuoni said. "I have a broken toe, but I still did it."
The box contained a balloon, a banana, two candy bars, pictures of Kirschner and two "Late Night with Conan O'Brien" tickets, she said.
"I thought the box was going to be filled with a bunch of silly things, but there is some really fun prizes," Tuoni said.
Besides taking pictures with friends, spinning a prize wheel and jumping on inflatables, students also joined the university's new, online alumni community, UDconnection.com.
Sandy Tilford, university alumna from the class of 1995 who works in the office of alumni relations, said the online community launched at the university forum on May 10, and 400 seniors and alumni have since signed up.
"We are really hoping UDconnection will make it easier for us to keep in touch with recent graduates because young alumni engagement is a priority for the university and for the UD alumni association," Tilford said.
Rob Gibson, 1997 graduate who works for IT User Services, said students could register at Senior Day with their name and class year, and the program returns their record confirming their identity. Students are able to edit profiles as they move and become employed.
"I call it Facebook with the face," Gibson said.
Senior Abby Dechillo said it was easy to sign up on UDconnection.com, and she thinks it is beneficial to be part of the online alumni community.
"I think it is cool because I'm going to Texas, and I think it's important to find other UD alum," she said.
Senior Mike DeRienzo, president of SCPAB, said organizing Senior Day is a work in progress from the beginning of the year and a group effort is made between SCPAB, SGA, the student centers and the university public relations department.
DeRienzo said SCPAB booked Kristen and the Noise last semester and is proud to have Blass and Kirschner emcee the event.
"It's cool, especially because it's Senior Day, to see two graduated, UD alums come back for this," he said.
This year, underclassmen were eligible to win a Nintendo Wii, DeRienzo said. The prize was an incentive for students to come out and support the Class of 2008.
SCPAB has co-sponsored the event for the past two years, DeRienzo said.
"Every year I have worked on it, it has been getting bigger," he said. "This is the first year someone is actually going to win and walk away with a car.
"It is very exciting for us."
Due to the weather, organizers of the event had to cut back on the number of inflatables, DeRienzo said. Entertainment, prizes and activities were not affected by the weather.
Junior Casey Patriarco, SGA president, said SGA has always helped run the event.
"We want to continue the tradition and make sure seniors celebrate the accomplishment of four years," Patriarco said.
It always puts a damper on things when outdoor events are brought indoors, she said.
"It's a good crowd and an exciting atmosphere despite the weather," Patriarco said.
Senior Lee Edelstein, SGA faculty senator, said this is his third year planning Senior Day.
"My job is to make sure everyone is on the same page and to coordinate everyone's efforts," Edelstein said. "It has been weird planning my own Senior Day."
He said he thinks there was a substantial turnout regardless of the weather.
"It took a little bit of creativity to move inside, but it was out of our control," Edelstein said. "We always reserve the rooms just in case."
Junior Gina Bizzoco, current secretary and incoming president of SCPAB, said she was in charge of taking care of the band, the novelties and the emcees as well as helping to run the event.
"I just wanted to make sure the seniors have one last hurrah," Bizzoco said. "I'm glad everyone still came out despite the weather. It shows their dedication to us."
Senior Eddie Wilson said he enjoyed the inflatable jousting ring.
"My friend Rich and I are competitive in sports, so we decided to try out the jousting," Wilson said.
Senior Pacey Oken said the university should have advertised more for the event.
"I know a lot of people who didn't know about it," Oken said. "I would ask people if they were going and they would be like, 'What Senior Day?' "
Senior Rebecca Dorough said she was shocked when she won the flat-screen TV and TiVo set.
"I never win anything," Dorough said. "I brought playing cards because I thought I was going to sit here the whole time and just play with friends.
"I left class early and thought I was going to sit here for three hours and walk away with nothing."
Senior Kim Clanet said the event was still fun despite the inclement weather.
"There is so much fun stuff to do that it is great in here," Clanet said. "Its just fun to be with everyone. It brings everyone together without drinking."
As she packed up from her last set, Kristen Qwolek, lead singer of Kristen and the Noise, said the band loves performing at university events.
"There is no crowd like the UD crowd," Qwolek said. "They are nuts - in a good way."
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