Campus-Activities Group Holds East Coast Festival at College

Pennsylvania College of Technology was the site of the recent 2001 National Association for Campus Activities' East Coast Festival, a two-day event attended by some 270 students from more than 50 colleges and universities and more than 100 agents and performers in the college-entertainment field.

The Student Activities Office and the student-run Wildcat Events Board at Penn College hosted the event on the main campus on March 23-24. The festival featured participation by students and staff from colleges and universities in Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Vermont, Virginia and Washington, D.C.

NACA is a national organization that works to link the higher-education and entertainment communities in a business-and-learning partnership, creating educational and business opportunities for college students. Penn College has been a member of NACA for three years.

Over the two days of the festival, students attended sessions to learn how to better program activities on their campuses; preview the lecturers, musicians, comedians, hypnotists and novelty/variety performers who will be touring the college circuit in the future; and meet with their peers from the East Coast region to network and share resources.

Elliott Strickland, director of student activities at Penn College, chaired the event with a committee of staff members and students from Bucknell University, City University of New York School of Law, Kutztown University, Marywood University, Penn College and State University of New York Morrisville.

"I was very impressed with how hard our students worked, as well as our campus offices, such as General Services, Hospitality/Conference and Guest Services, Food Services and Student Activities," Strickland said. "Everyone left campus with a great impression of Penn College and Williamsport. Not only was this one of the largest festivals NACA has held, it was also one of the highest-quality events the association has sponsored."