Evangeline Airth (right) reacts after beating Andrea Rowland (left) in a game of Hughes-Trigg Jeoprady during the student center’s 19th birthday party.
Tuesday marked the birthday celebration of the Hughes-Trigg Student Center. For the past 19 years, Hughes-Trigg has provided students with a place to relax between classes, eat meals, grab coffee and attend more than 8,000 events annually.
“Celebrating the birthday of Hughes-Trigg every year is in part to celebrate this wonderful gift SMU was given from Charles and Kathy Trigg,” said Tim Moore, the director of Hughes-Trigg.
“The Triggs gave money to make a student center possible. We want to celebrate that gift and what the center has to offer to campus,” he added.
This year’s celebration in the Hughes-Trigg Commons included food, cake and prizes.
Hush puppies and crab cakes were provided by Picardys restaurant in Snider Plaza. David Bosquez, Picardys’ area manager, wanted to “Help celebrate Hughes-Trigg and bring out snacks for the students and faculty.” Picardys gave away gift certificates and was the major contributor to the day’s festivities according to Marianna Sullivan, the marketing coordinator for Hughes-Trigg.
“This is a celebration of Hughes-Trigg and a present to the students, because this is a student center. We are just glad to do something for the students that is fun, provides food, music and entertainment,” said Sullivan.
The celebration included trivia game that gave students the opportunity to win prizes or gift certificates from Picardys, Java City, Aqua Spa, Burger House and Pluckers.
Evangeline Arith, a junior, was one of the students to walk away with a prize.
“I spend a lot of time in Hughes-Trigg and I do think that it should be celebrated. I’m excited to spend another year here; I’m here almost every day,” she said.
“It’s the best place to be, hang out with friends and meet football players and people,” said Tony Hawkins, a junior.
The annual celebration of the $10 million donation from Charles and Kathy Hughes-Trigg is always in the exact spot where the couple first met and fell in love more than 50 years ago.
