WOW, what a week

 BY MICAELA SULLIVAN

Multimedia Journalist

Food, friends, laughter and the collective uproar when “BINGO” was exclaimed – Tarleton State University’s Wow Week lived up to its name.  

For years, Tarleton State University’s Wow Week has welcomed students back to campus with entertainment, community and memories. 

With events ranging from the tour of Stephenville to Splash Bash, students were given the opportunity to have fun, create new connections and get a taste of home.

One of the most well-known stops of Wow Week is Texan Bingo. Students sat wall to wall in the Texan Ballrooms, hoping to win prizes. 

Kyle Becerra, program Coordinator of Student Connections—who was one of the staff members behind the scenes at Texan Bingo—explained how the games are structured. 

“There are a bunch of rounds that go from small to big prizes with different variations of Bingo,” Becerra said.

But beyond the prizes, Becerra hoped students would take more from Texan Bingo than just the game. 

"I hope that students have a fun night to relax after the first few weeks of class,” Becerra said.

Anette Hernandez, a student in attendance, shared that the event offered exactly what Becerra had hoped for. 

“My friends were coming, and I’ve always had fun at bingo events, even if I don’t win. I think it’s a generally fun experience for friends, as well as making new friends and to make lasting memories. I’m a very shy person, so this was a fun experience,” Hernandez said. 

While Texan Bingo was a hot spot, it was not the only event students looked forward to. Battle of the DJs was another new event Texans anticipated. Carlos Guzmán, who helped organize the competition, explains how the night unfolded. 

“Battle of the DJs is an event where three DJs come together. Two of them are actual Tarleton students, and the other one was someone we hired. Each one plays a set amount of time, and after all three go, the students vote for who wins Battle of the DJs, and then that person plays again to finish it off,” Guzman said.

While Battle of the DJs didn’t draw a large crowd, Guzman said the students who did attend still got something out of the event.

“I think it was a good chance for students to hang out with their friends, make new friends and kind of see what events Tarleton has. We have a lot of crazy events; however, Battle of the DJs was a new one that we have not done recently,” Guzman said. 

Wow Week is not just about on-campus fun; it also gives students a chance to connect with the community. The Farmers Market, posted right outside of the Dining Hall, was made up of many local vendors offering just a little bit of what the community in Stephenville is all about. Buddy Bowman, a vendor at the Farmers Market, reflected on its growth during Wow Week.

“This year it's gotten a lot bigger. Usually it's just us and then the dining hall and maybe one or two other vendors, but now we’ve got six of us here,” Bowman said.

First-time vendor, Tamala Melnar, shared her experience of the Farmers Market. 

“I’m surprised. I think it’s a good opportunity for the locals to interact with the students. And I think I can appreciate them more, and they can maybe appreciate us, too,” Melnar said.

All of the local vendors at the Farmers Market were Forgotten Trail Farm Candy Co., C3 Farm ‘n Southern Farm Girl, Choco LALA, Lucky Nutrition, Tamala’s Cookies, Tarleton Purple Tractor and Volleman’s Milk.

Throughout Wow Week, there are a total of 42 events for students. Wow Week truly left a “Wow” on students and members of the community. With each round of Bingo, every smile and lighthearted exchange with local vendors and every new friendship, Wow Week gave students a sense of community and home.