ESCC students come together to celebrate Founders

Students at Enterprise State Community College celebrated Founders’ Day Oct. 17, with more than a hundred students crowding the track for watersports, slides, contests, food and comradery in general.

The community college sets aside one day each year for students to take a break from class and celebrate their school’s founders.

As a part of the ceremonies students participated in the first annual “ESCC’s Got Talent,” which showcased music, dancing and even stand up comedy.

Layla Shields claimed first place in the show, singing a spicy rendition of the The Animals’ “House of the Rising Sun.”

Petra Hokanson said the talent show was the highlight of her Founders’ Day.

“It was great to see different people get a chance to showcase their talents outside of the Entertainers and choir,” Hokanson said. “I love we can do this.”

Hokanson said though she enjoyed the day’s festivities, she wished it had been advertised a little differently.

“I think a lot of people don’t really know what’s going on and that there is a lot of fun to be had,” she said.

The Entertainers also put on a performance during the festivities.

“It was tricky setting up and taking down the risers, sound and band equipment but it was so worth it,” said Jo Beth Workman, who is in the ESCC Entertainers. “It was great to have a chance to show people what we do and how much fun it is.”

Workman said it was also fun getting to spend some time with her fellow classmates.

Aside from “ESCC’s Got Talent,” several contests were held including the traditional Founders’ Day Chili Cook Off, which was won this year by Felisha Ford.

This year, ESCC also hosted a “Best Butt” barbecue contest, won by Chellye Stump, and the title of Best Dessert was awarded to Jennifer Johnson.

“I thought the day was epic,” said Deidre Frith, director of marketing and media relations for ESCC. “We had beautiful weather and great student participation in the relay races this year.”

Frith said the addition of “ESCC’s Got Talent” gave non-athletic, more creative-minded students a chance to participate in the Founders’ Day activities.

“Days like Founders’ Day are what really bring the student body together in the spirit of good competition,” she said.

Students were also able to raise $121.46 through the Faculty "Kiss The Pig" contest, and as a result ESCC Recruiter Terri Parker got to share a moment with a porcine participant. 

For the second time in a year, a group of ESCC baseball players took home the bragging rights from the relay events.

Tyler Stump, Owen Brown, Colby Adkinson, Jason Jordan, Blake Smith and Brandon Carpenter made up the winning team, who called themselves “The Red Rockets.”

Frith said, though Founders’ Day has been celebrated during the spring semester in the past, this year the college wanted to move it back to the month the school was founded, October.t