Cruisin’ for candy and fun at MCC
They came. They cruised. They got candy.
Some 2,600 people made their way to Meridian Community College’s Track to take part in the third annual Candy Cruise hosted by the Eagle’s Nest Bookstore. Nineteen teams of different campus programs and organizations encircled the track with their booths and dished out candy, smiles, and other treats.
College officials and community folks alike described Candy Cruise 2023 as an incredible success. “We more than doubled our attendance than last year,” said Jan Miller, bookstore manager. Meridianite Adrian Cross-Phillips and her husband Kendrick Phillips made their way around the track with their young son, KJ. “For KJ’s first Halloween, this is perfect,” she said. “This is fun and I like it,” Cross-Phillips added.
Fun was also a part of the cruise’s best-of-show competition among the booths with Ivy League Recruiters decked out in Barbie-themed attire taking first place. Second-place honors went to Workforce Solutions circus theme, and Radiologic Technology Program students garnered third place for their Bubble Guppy entry. Dressed in Western style, complete with green plaid shirts and green bandanas, were Lady Eagles Basketball team members. They earned an honorable mention nod.
New to this year’s event was the surprise flash mob dance to the song Heads Will Roll. The College’s Stage 2 members performed while dressed in Alice in Wonderland costumes.
MCC President Dr. Tom Huebner said events like this are fantastic for several reasons. “They're fun for community building with the people we see every day, and they are great opportunities for our students to connect with each other, with our faculty and staff, and with our community. I also like it when members of the community—particularly kids--are on campus for events. Many people in our town don't really know our campus, and anything we can do to get them here is positive,” he said.
As the evening ended, one mom who left the track with her children, said to MCCers, “Kudos to the college. This was great. Thank you.”