On Feb. 5, Auburn's University Program Council hosted a belated 169th birthday celebration for Auburn University, whose official birthday is on Feb. 1. The annual event, which was held in the Melton Student Center ballroom, began at 6 p.m. and lasted until 9 p.m.
Food tables at the birthday bash were brimming with birthday cakes, sandwiches catered from Momma Goldberg's, Toomer's lemonade and snacks. Similar to previous years, a section of tables were set up with Build-A-Tigers — a furry fan favorite.
“The best part was making these amazing little stuffed animals,” said Victoria Whisenant, freshman in industrial and systems engineering.
Despite the event's advertised 6 p.m. start time, Auburn students were waiting well before, with a line wrapping around the entirety of the student center's third floor. Cole Wheeler, UPC's president, had to open the doors a bit earlier than anticipated.
"People are so excited. We're out of everything and it's 6:43 — less than an hour in," Wheeler said. "The turnout was really awesome."
At 6:43 p.m., 562 attendees had been accounted for, whereas last year’s event reached approximately 315 people in total.
While UPC ordered more of everything this year, their large turnout caused them to run out of both food and Build-A-Tigers fairly early into the event.
Wheeler recommended that, in the future, students arrive early to UPC’s bigger events, since everything is first-come, first-serve.
“If you show up an hour into the event, you're gonna come in and there will be nothing left. Especially for those bigger events where there should be longer lines, like get there early and you know that way you can get the best seats in the house,” Wheeler said.
This year’s event differed in ways other than the high attendance. Carter Stremmel, UPC’s director of holidays and traditions, added more party games to the night’s activities.
“My favorite part is seeing all the things that me and my leadership team had in our mind come to fruition. Like, that pin-the-tail-on-the-tiger over there, that was one of my visions for the event — to have a little party game,” Stremmel said.
In addition to the pin-the-tail-on-the-tiger game, the activity lineup included cupcake decorating, limbo and Auburn trivia. Students gathered at the tables in the ballroom’s center, the shared tables creating opportunities for attendees to get to know one another.
“I really always love interactive events because they give our students an opportunity to interact with each other and really just strengthen their bonds,” said Aaron Aldaz, UPC’s assistant director of finance for pop-up events.
Many students expressed their appreciation of events such as these.
“I hope our family continues to grow and our campus continues to have so many activities and events, so everybody can become a family,” said Stephanie Hall, freshman in biomedical science.
Erin Darnall, freshman in environmental conservation and management, seconded these feelings of gratitude towards Auburn University.
“I think Auburn does a lot to make this giant college feel kind of a small place, a small town feel, which I really enjoy,” Darnall said.
As Auburn University’s 169th birthday celebration came to a close, it was agreed that previous years did not hold a candle to this event’s high attendance and variety in creative activities.
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Ella Walton, majoring in English literature with a minor in creative writing, currently serves as the culture editor at The Auburn Plainsman. She has been with The Auburn Plainsman since fall of 2023.
