Students flocked to various booths set up on sunny Dallas Hall Lawn by SMU Program Council for their event titled Spring in Wonderland, inspired by “Alice in Wonderland” on April, 2. At check-in, members of PC handed attendees bags with a suit from a deck of cards printed in the center and a ticket listing all the activities.
One of their activities was permanent jewelry and a long line trailed from its booth. Bracelets and necklaces hung on stands, and people could pick one and adorn it with a charm such as a teapot, lemon, card, heart and many more options.
The permanent jewelry activity was one of the favorite parts for Jacqueline Mendoza, a public policy and political science major.
“I got a little necklace, so it was really nice,” Mendoza said.
Attendees turned their heads as one of the members of PC announced that the butterfly release was happening soon. Many approached the concrete bench near the fountain to pick up an envelope. Carefully opening it, a monarch butterfly slowly woke up and took flight.
Excited to celebrate spring, especially after how cold it’s been, a butterfly release was fitting to do for the season, Feyi Oni, the programming chair for the Spring in Wonderland Event, said.
“I think it’s really cool because I don’t think anyone’s done a butterfly release before,” Oni said. “At PC, we’re always looking to do something new and do things that have never happened on campus.”
Permanent jewelry and the butterfly release weren’t the only popular activities. Students sorted through different flowers and picked their favorite ones for their bouquets, while others gathered at the aromatherapy roller station and sniffed the scented oils. Groups gathered to take pictures at the photo booth and others worked on cups at the cup-making station.
Students also grabbed food from the table stacked with East Hampton sandwiches, cookies, a tart platter and flower cupcakes.
The event helped increase PC’s visibility on campus by showing students what else they could do with their time, Maggie Waldron, vice president of Human Resources for PC, said.
“For students, I think it’s a great study break,” Waldron said. “A different event to kind of break up the day and enjoy with friends.”
However, students weren’t the only ones present at the event. You could see a mother and daughter sorting through different jewelry, a child running around trying to catch a butterfly and families eating at the picnic tables. It showed that the event attracted not only students, but everyone happy for the beginning of spring.
“I was really excited for an end-of-the-year event that me and my friends would be able to go to, especially it being a wonderland one,” Mendoza said. “I feel like it’s really beautiful for spring.”
