The Roundup Hosts Inaugural Banquet

This year was a first for multiple The Roundup additions: the first The Roundup water bottle, the first The Roundup belt, and now the first The Roundup banquet. Like the belt and water bottle, the banquet turned out to be a big hit.

On Tuesday May 6, 2014, the banquet took place in the Terry Center, consisting of many events. First, everyone ate and conversed,
enjoying a Tex-Mex fajita meal catered by Enchiladas Restaurant. This was followed by what was possibly the most entertaining part of the night: the award ceremony. The ceremony took up the majority of the banquet and seniors Aaron Stonecipher and Justin Ruebenstein listed off the recipients of many different awards.

The awards covered a variety of recognitions, both serious and humorous. The awards ranged from Best Freshman Reporter and Best Senior Editor to Best Excuses. Editor-in-Chief Aaron Stonecipher explained that “the awards were really fun to give out, and I just think everyone had a great time.” Although the awards were merely given for fun, Stonecipher believes that it motivated the rising seniors to set records of their own.

Following the awards were the senior recognitions. Dr. Degen acknowledged the seniors and gave them each a book to thank them for all the hard work that they have put into The Roundup over the past three years.

Dr. Degen, as well as Aaron, believes that the banquet as a whole turned out to be a big success. He explained that it is a “wonderful way to celebrate the work of our volunteer army.” This banquet is not the last one writers will see, for Dr. Degen believes that this will be a tradition going forward for the Roundup.

With over 50 people at the banquet, The Roundup now has its largest staff in history and looks to add onto that number next year.

Photography by Suzanne Durham

Awards