Halloween-spirited participants were able to show off their carving skills between the sand volleyball court and tanning pool in SMU’s third annual Great Pumpkin Search.

Although the weather threatened rain, it did not deter students from coming out to carve pumpkins in the Dedman Center of Lifetime Sports on the evening of Oct. 29.

Witches, ghosts, aliens and silly face templates were taken from a carving kit to create the different designs.  The majority of the students were from the English Incentive Program here at SMU. 

“I like this activity, it’s like a party. I will carve a happy face on my pumpkin. We also made a cat, but it doesn’t look like a cat,” EIP member Meshal Sugair said.

While attendees improved their vegetable-carving skills, they also focused on joining together.

“The most important thing is for people to come together and do activities, like pumpkin carving,” EIP member Reem Alddibibi said.

The main purpose of this program is for students from different countries to study and advance their English.

“My country doesn’t have this celebration, so it is very interesting. I am from Korea and there are people in this program from China, Saudi Arabia and Taiwan,” said EIP member Yumin Kang.

Judging took place on Oct. 30 and prizes for first, second and third place were awarded.