A week before Fall break, UMSL hosted its annual Friendsgiving gathering on November 18. Students entered the large ED Collabitat venue and waited through long lines for tastes of traditional Thanksgiving feasts, including turkey, mashed potatoes, pies and more. After feasting, students quickly mingled with familiar and new faces, bonding over board games, bracelet making and coloring books set out at each table.
This event focused on building community and providing students with opportunities to forge new friendships and connections. Jairo Morales, Coordinator of Community and Belonging at UMSL, described Friendsgiving as “an opportunity to build community and help meet the needs of students who may be facing food insecurities, holiday blues and academic fatigue from midterms.”
Friendsgiving was organized by UMSL Global and the University Programming Board, with collaboration from Residence Life, Office of Student Involvement and UMSL’s Recreation and Wellness Center. Ellie Reiser, Global Student Programs Coordinator for UMSL Global, highlighted the importance of this event for international students. “Friendsgiving allows our international student population to experience an American tradition that they may not have participated in before.”
This year, the University Programming Board’s Peep Squad hosted a primary trivia game that included questions about Thanksgiving, fall facts, UMSL knowledge and American pop culture. Students gathered in teams and competed for prizes, including Polaroid cameras, UMSL merch, painting kits and stuffed animals.
Reiser positively reflected on the game, “Peep Squad’s trivia was a great way to engage our students in a fun and exciting way. I loved seeing how excited the students got when they won the round.”
Over 190 students attended this year’s event, breaking the past three years’ records. Morales highlighted that the students were also getting more than just good food when stopping by,
“We also saw more use of our crafting and game activities, meaning that more students stuck around after their first plate of food.”
This Friendsgiving event gave students the opportunity to destress and relax before final exams in December. “I am grateful that so many departments came together to help make this year’s Friendsgiving a memorable event,” said Reiser.
