Alexia Gonzales said it felt like the longest aerobics workout of her life, but she walked away from last Friday’s Dance-a-thon with the grand prize – a Spring Break vacation for two.
Gonzalez, an English senior, joined hundreds of students at “Go Bananas” on Sept. 5 and danced the night away at the United Way fundraiser, which brought in more than $2,000 for the charity.
Loyola’s Student Government Association, University Programming Board and the Black Student Union co-sponsored the event and used it as a precursor to Loyola’s official United Way campaign, running from Oct. 6 to 17.
Students could enter the contest by donating $5, $7 for complimentary drinks or $10 for drinks and a T-shirt.
More than 60 students entered in hopes of nabbing the trip or a selection of other prizes, which included gift certificates to Blockbuster, Copeland’s, the Audubon Zoo, the bookstore and tickets to Saints games. Most of the prizes were given out in raffles.
The event, held in the St. Charles Room, went from 3:30 p.m. to 1 a.m., with many exhausted dancers gradually slowing down their moves to leave only the most hardcore participants.
The destination for the trip hasn’t been decided, because it revolves around Gonzales’ schedule.
The cost will either be covered by United Way or split by the SGA and UPB.
Communications junior Chris Cook won second place and was awarded an upperclassmen meal plan for the second semester.
Dancers were given a number and were judged by a selection of faculty and students. They were awarded points for entertaining or skillful moves.
Numerous onlookers came throughout the night to watch friends and eat.
“The bottom line is that everyone is having fun,” political science senior and UPB member Dan Roberti said.
SGA president Bea Forlano said that she has made raising money for the United Way a priority during her time in office.
And, although Loyola has always maintained a partnership with the United Way, she said the Dance-a-thon was unique because it involved faculty and students in a creative way.
“It wasn’t just a call for donations, but actually an event that was highly enjoyable, and will hopefully become an annual event at Loyola,” Forlano said in an e-mail.
She also said that SGA members were working on a Disability Fair in conjunction with the United Way, United Cerebral Palsy of Greater New Orleans and several other Loyola student organizations.
Dan D’Amico, economics senior, Jerry Gosin, general music freshman, and Alexia Gonzales, English senior, bust a move in the St. Charles Room. Gonzales won the grand prize of a Spring Break trip for two.
