Candy Crawl, an annual tradition at MC, brings costumes and trick-or-treating to campus
Spearheaded by Bursar Melanie Croft as a way to encourage FAFSA completion from students, the Haunted Highlands Candy Crawl began in 2018. It was initially a smaller event in the Pearsons lobby.
“It’s become a beloved tradition,” Croft said. “We kicked things off in 2018 with one table, took a two year break during Covid, and have been going strong ever since. As long as our campus community is excited to participate, we will keep the Candy Crawl alive year after year!”
In 2023, the Candy Crawl expanded, including all of Fayerweather “Scareweather” Hall for the event.
“It was such a hit that we opened it up to staff and faculty across campus for 2024, … and a tradition was born,” Croft said. “What started as one person at one table has morphed into 22 tables with over 100 staff and faculty!”
Croft said that she estimates that 300-400 students came to the event, based on how much candy her office handed out and had remaining.
“Not everyone took candy, but the turnout was fantastic!” Croft said. “We also try to be inclusive with our candy selections.”
She added that they have non-food items at many tables, as well as chocolate and non-chocolate candy for people with dietary restrictions.
“My son has a life-threatening peanut allergy and I know how it feels to not have any safe candy choices. I don’t want any of our students to feel left out due to dietary restrictions or personal preferences.”
In addition to changes in location and size of the event, the theme changes each year – this year, the theme was “favorite TV shows”. Croft explained that the theme is announced in early August, through a campus-wide email that includes a sign-up sheet for the tables.
“We already have next year’s theme picked out, but that is still under wraps for now.”
Croft is the main coordinator, but said that it is a team effort, and that the Business Office team brainstorms themes, organizes logistics and helps market the event. She mentioned help from many individuals, including Shannon Watts, Brie Kalivas, Doniqua Chen and Dione Simmons.
Croft said that the trickiest part is coming up with a creative office theme and coordinating costumes. While students look forward to the event every fall, staff and faculty enjoy the event nearly as much as students.
“I want our students to see us as real people who love to have fun,” Croft said. “At the end of the day, we’re all just big kids who enjoy dressing up and celebrating together!”
Academic Affairs in full costume as The Addams Family. Left to right: Liz Perry-Sizemore, Denise Cantrell, Jerilyn Swann, Kathie Shiba, Saij Miller-Wildsmith
Residence Life brings magic to MC campus, dressed as Harry Potter characters. Left to right: Dione Simmons, Bella Rossi, Alayna Baggenstoss, Charlie Shipman, Alex McCullough
Peanuts characters embodied by Division of Fine Arts. Left to right: Stacey Wilner, Robyn Rocklein, Jacob Parauka, Andy Vaught, Landin Eldridge, Sarah Bernstein, Deborah Boling
MC Admissions team poses as Disney Channel characters. Left to right: Catherine Hill, Ally Hale, Leah Alsobrooks, Caston Weeks, Allison Spradley
Business Office as contestants and host of The Price Is Right. Left to right: Tessa Cortes, Leann Webb, Cassandra Anderson, Melanie Croft, Carrie Hood, Laurie Fancher-Long
Chris Freeman and Jamie Webster as Ron Swanson and Leslie Knope from Parks and Recreation.
Division of Health Sciences and Outdoor Studies as Ted Lasso characters. Left to right: Katie Stephenson McCarthy, Traci Haydu, Ramona Crawford, Jennifer Flynn Oody.
The Golden Girls at the Candy Crawl. Left to right: Ronda Wright, Aja Rodriguez, Laura Reed
Sesame Street characters Bert, Ernie and Big Bird. Left to right: Devyn Kelly, Karmen Stephensen, Vickie Skates