by Caleb Fort
Daily Lobo
Marilu Ugalde, a student from West Mesa High School, said getting free food was her favorite part of UNM's celebration of Albuquerque's tricentennial.
She said her second favorite part was learning what would be available to her if she came to the University.
"I like that you get to learn many different things about the school," she said. "It could help you decide if you want to come here."
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Eleanor Sanchez, co-chair of the committee that organized the event, said about 800 students from elementary school, middle school and early high school came to the event.
Sanchez said the event - which UNM President Louis Caldera called the heart of UNM's tricentennial celebrations - did not start with a focus on young students.
"We wanted to showcase the University," she said.
However, the committee decided to focus more on education, she said.
The idea was to have a day similar to College Day, when UNM brings high school students to campus, but targeted toward younger students, she said.
She said it is meant to encourage young students to think about attending UNM.
"It started out more of a communitywide event," she said. "But then we thought it was a good opportunity to bring these school kids on campus."
The event, which took place Friday across campus, included performances, free cake, a small planetarium and speeches by Mayor Martin Ch†vez and Caldera. The Fine Arts Department hung a banner from the Cornell Parking Structure, and much of campus was decorated with red and white balloons.
The Fine Arts Department put on performances in front of Popejoy Hall from 10 a.m. until about 5 p.m. Performances ranged from African drumming and dancing to a jazz performance. There was a chemistry demonstration at Woodward Hall, and there were fire engines and a large Smokey Bear balloon on Johnson Field.
There were also several walking tours of campus.
Sanchez said about 60 departments contributed to the event.
She said UNM students could benefit from the event even though it was not targeted at them.
"If they haven't already decided their major, they actually had people there that could talk to them about their programs," she said. "I hope that was another benefit of the program."
High school student Kayla Wagner said she did not get anything out of the event except free Pepsi.
"It seems like it's meant for elementary school," she said. "Younger kids find it more interesting."
UNM student Collin Spears said he liked the event, even if it wasn't targeted toward him.
"That's one of the reasons I like UNM," he said. "There's always something going on, and every time I come to campus I'm surprised by something like this happening."
He said the only disadvantage of the event was congestion in front of the SUB caused by the visiting students.
"I had to get off my bike and walk it," Spears said. "It was like wading through a sea of munchkins."
Sanchez said the event cost UNM about $9,000, which came from advertising and student outreach funds. She said the city donated the money for school buses to take children to campus, but she was not sure how much that cost.
She said the event would have cost much more, but several departments donated time and supplies.
Sanchez said Aramark donated a $600 cake, which was served first to Caldera and Ch†vez outside of the SUB, and then given to anyone nearby.
Sanchez said the biggest kink in planning the festivities came when she found out most of the neighboring elementary and middle schools had Friday off, so students could not go on a field trip.
Nevertheless, she said she was happy with the celebration.
"I don't have any complaints, except that I wish I could have had a longer day with the students," she said.
