Fundraisers & Fun on Founder's Day

Yesterday the university celebrated Founder's Day with a slew of events from a 5K fun run/1 mile fun walk to a free picnic lunch. From http://www.atsu.edu/: "History of Founder's Day = On December 12, 1919, a memorial service was held to honor the school's founder, Dr. Andrew Taylor Still, who had passed away on December 12, 1917. The presidents of all the classes met with Dr. George Still to plan the event, a brief ceremony in the assembly hall and a floral wreath placed on the statue of A. T. Still. It was decided then that a similiar ceremony would be held each year to honor the founder of the school, and that was the beginning of Founder's Day. Ceremonies have been held each year thereafter and enable all of us to gather to renew old ties, to make new acquaintances, and allow us to evaluate and enjoy the progress the University has made in meeting the demands of each new day." A.T. Still University in Kirksville, MO aka Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine (KCOM) was founded in 1892 and was the first institution of osteopathic education in the world. A.T. Still University has grown to have a campus in Arizona and home to the Arizona School of Health Sciences (ASHS), Arizona School of Dentistry & Oral Health (ASDOH), and School of Osteopathic Medicine in Arizona (SOMA).

The A.T. Still University Chapter of the Student Academy of Audiology (ATSU SAA) held two fundraisers -- Earmold Fundraiser and T-Shirt Fundraiser -- in conjunction with Founder's Day events. The T-shirts we're selling are not specific to Audiology. Embroidery on polos and such are available to all the degree programs on-campus which are Audiology, Athletic Training, Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, Physician Assistant Studies, ASDOH, and Osteopathic Medicine.

Below is the flyer containing information & pictures of the various hearing protection devices that we offered for the Earmold Fundraiser.

Page 2 of the flyer...these flyers were used for distribution when the 2-week long Earmold Fundraiser occurred back in September. After the Earmold Fundraiser was over, we kept getting inquiries if we were going to hold another Earmold Fundraiser so it was decided to hold another one for one day only on Founder's Day.

Below one of the third-year Au.D. students is taking ear impressions on a first-year Au.D. student.
No, that is not a large glob of pink bubble gum & dental floss in her ear! It's silicone impression material and the string from the otoblock. :-)

A lot of the ATSU SAA members who were available on Saturday signed up for an hour-long volunteer shift to either man the booth outdoors (first-year Au.D. students) or to take ear impressions indoors (second- and third-year Au.D. students). Some members stayed for the duration of Founder's Day events which went from 9:00am to 2:00pm.

Being the President of the ATSU SAA and with the co-faculty advisors of the ATSU SAA absent, I wound up staying the 6 hours for the fundraisers from set-up to answering questions to tear-down. I did get to break away for a half hour to do the 'free picnic lunch' with my parents. Yes, I invited my parents out to the Founder's Day events. ;-) It was after all open to students, faculty, family & friends.

There was also a Dodgeball Tournament. The Au.D. students had two teams playing.

Below is a picture of the first Au.D. team to play in the dodgeball tournament. It was THE shortest dodgeball game in history...lasted less than 30 seconds. They get an 'A' for effort. :-)

Below is a picture of the second Au.D. team composed of all second-year students. They called themselves the "Scorpions" which were printed up on T-shirts. They fared better in their dodgeball game, lasting almost 2 minutes. I think the two dental teams we went up against must have practiced beforehand while we went cold-turkey.

I'm "Hear 4 U Always"...trying to put the FUN in FUNdraisers. Unfortunately the turnout of people wasn't as great as anticipated in comparison to last year's Founder's Day attendees. C'est la vie. As a friend used to say to me upon leaving and I feel it appropriate to use now, I'm outta here like a fat kid in dodgeball!