Spring Break
Neither Dips Nor Dots Help UCMA Fundraiser
Katie Hannafin
Issue date: 3/24/08 Section: Focus
While Dippin' Dots have the benefit of uniqueness, they weren't enough to carry UConn Material Advantage's "Dots 'N' Dots" fundraiser last Friday. Students were invited to participate in a Dots and Boxes game tournament in the Student Union, and Dippin' Dots ice cream was sold alongside.
Adam Wentworth, programming chair for UCMA and a 6th-semester materials science major, and Kristine Crespo, a 6th-semester criminal justice major at the University of New Haven, worked the table in the lobby all day and did their best to sign up participants and raise money.
"We had about six last-minute players in our tournament who played because of the prizes we were giving out," said Wentworth. "The prizes we gave away included gift certificates for Chuck's Steakhouse and Margarita Grill, and a basket of movie themed gifts including snacks and a $25 gift card to Regal Cinemas."
Unclear advertising was UCMA's downfall with the tournament. No one seemed to know what the point of the tournament was, and many were under the impression that the Dippin' Dots would be free, or that it was an eating contest. The response to the fundraiser was so lackluster that the price of the ice cream was eventually lowered from $2.50 to $1.00, a loss of a dollar on each unit sold. Once the rumor that Dippin' Dots were so affordable got around, though, "Everyone got excited. They're never that cheap," said Wentworth. "One woman ordered 40 packages."
"The poster was really vague, but we'll still be here all day trying to get people to participate," said Crespo.
Two winners were Seth Taylor, a 2nd-semester music education major, and Stephanie Gagliardi, a 6th-semester materials science and engineering major.
"I'm actually the Outreach Chair for Material Advantage and it was great to see a silly idea in a meeting turn into a reality," Gagliardi said. "I think it worked well because it was a unique fundraiser. Playing the dots game and eating Dippin' Dots are things that most people can identify with, so it was cool to put the two together."
Aside from its fundraising fluke, UCMA is a very successful group at the university. It is one of the most active professional engineering societies at UConn and continues to grow each year as the number of undergraduate materials science majors increases, according to the group's Web site. They have had dedicated members contribute valuable research and publications to the materials science field, and the overall goals of the group include introducing the topic of materials science & engineering to K-12 students in a fun and exciting way. UCMA has had more success with fundraising in the past, including a BigWords.com advertising campaign in January, which it will be replicating at the beginning of next semester.
The lack of funds didn't dishearten the members of UCMA and they will be selling Dippin' Dots again on April 25th during Spring Weekend.
Contact Katie Hannafin at
Katherine.Hannafin@UConn.edu.
Adam Wentworth, programming chair for UCMA and a 6th-semester materials science major, and Kristine Crespo, a 6th-semester criminal justice major at the University of New Haven, worked the table in the lobby all day and did their best to sign up participants and raise money.
"We had about six last-minute players in our tournament who played because of the prizes we were giving out," said Wentworth. "The prizes we gave away included gift certificates for Chuck's Steakhouse and Margarita Grill, and a basket of movie themed gifts including snacks and a $25 gift card to Regal Cinemas."
Unclear advertising was UCMA's downfall with the tournament. No one seemed to know what the point of the tournament was, and many were under the impression that the Dippin' Dots would be free, or that it was an eating contest. The response to the fundraiser was so lackluster that the price of the ice cream was eventually lowered from $2.50 to $1.00, a loss of a dollar on each unit sold. Once the rumor that Dippin' Dots were so affordable got around, though, "Everyone got excited. They're never that cheap," said Wentworth. "One woman ordered 40 packages."
"The poster was really vague, but we'll still be here all day trying to get people to participate," said Crespo.
Two winners were Seth Taylor, a 2nd-semester music education major, and Stephanie Gagliardi, a 6th-semester materials science and engineering major.
"I'm actually the Outreach Chair for Material Advantage and it was great to see a silly idea in a meeting turn into a reality," Gagliardi said. "I think it worked well because it was a unique fundraiser. Playing the dots game and eating Dippin' Dots are things that most people can identify with, so it was cool to put the two together."
Aside from its fundraising fluke, UCMA is a very successful group at the university. It is one of the most active professional engineering societies at UConn and continues to grow each year as the number of undergraduate materials science majors increases, according to the group's Web site. They have had dedicated members contribute valuable research and publications to the materials science field, and the overall goals of the group include introducing the topic of materials science & engineering to K-12 students in a fun and exciting way. UCMA has had more success with fundraising in the past, including a BigWords.com advertising campaign in January, which it will be replicating at the beginning of next semester.
The lack of funds didn't dishearten the members of UCMA and they will be selling Dippin' Dots again on April 25th during Spring Weekend.
Contact Katie Hannafin at
Katherine.Hannafin@UConn.edu.
Be the first to comment on this story