Celebrate York's 46th birthday by showing off your school colours. Wear red or York gear all day and you would win some prizes. Free birthday cake, loot bags full of goodies, on-campus discounts and more await you S but only if you're celebrating in red or York clothing.
There'll be a giant day-long stage show packed with York student talent to entertain you with students performing their hearts out for the school they love. And don't miss the big birthday bash pub night that follows.
Right: From left, York is U volunteer Huma Qureshi and Saba Rafiq, director of special events, give away York alumni mugs at the recent GradFest
The day’s birthday events, organized by York is U, take place in the Student Centre Food Court, from 9:30am to 3pm. The Birthday Pub Night will be held in the Underground from 10pm to 2am.
York is U's birthday celebration is just one of several recent events organized by the award-winning student alumni team: last week, students looking at life after school were offered a full program of events and information geared to their needs at GradFest, held March 15-16 in York Lanes.
"It was very successful," said Saba Rafiq, York is U director of special events. "Along with the graduating students, third-year students also attended the seminars and the exhibits in order to familiarize themselves with the whole process of graduating and becoming an alumnus."
Students had the chance to register online for the well-attended seminars dealing with topics such as career-search networking and an employer's panel. York is U volunteers also gave away free alumni mugs.
Left: From left, Julie Rahmer and Carolyn Steele of York's Career Centre at GradFest 2005
The highlight of the event was the networking session given by Naguib Gouda, York’s executive director, alumni and advancement services. Gouda, who first gave a networking session at last year's GradFest, was approached by a student a few months later at convocation, who said he had applied the techniques he had learned in the session to successfully land his first full-time job.
Events held March 8-9 in support of Environmental Awareness Week included collecting more than 100 signatures on an environmental promise banner. Signatories were encouraged to make a personal pledge in writing of how they planned to help save the environment. Visitors to events held in York Lanes on March 9 were invited to take a water taste test, join in planting sessions and plant giveaways, and look over information from the many NGO's and Environmental Organizations on hand as exhibitors.
Left: York is U Green Team coordinator Katherine Mitchell and the environment pledge banner
Displays included an environmental cityscape model featuring mini cars, a tree-lined street, rooftops and skyscraper models with roof-top gardens. Visitors also took part in a recycling basketball challenge by tossing tennis balls representing pop cans and newspapers into recycling bins. The more than 500 visitors to the two-day event were also able to watch Blue Box Cops, the York is U recycling video about undercover recycling agents, and learn more about the York Digesters composting facilities.
"This event was a fabulous way to connect York students to their campus environment," said Jeremy Greenberg, student alumni coordinator and York is U adviser. " Signing an environmental promise, tossing recycling and garbage into the appropriate bins, getting dirty planting baby saplings and testing your water tasting skills really got students hyped for thinking GREEN at York."
A key component of the York is U effort is the ongoing Green Team Mug Program and the Arbour Day events, held each spring and fall.
For more information on York is U, visit their award-winning Web site.