Pumpkin Carving Contest Brings Halloween Cheer
Over the weekend, Swarthmore students got into the Halloween spirit and tapped into their creativity with a pumpkin carving contest organized by Dining Services.
Beating out 21 other impressive contestants, Kelly Finke ’21 claimed the top prize with her entry “Starry Night at Clothier Hall”, an intricate design that drew inspiration from the famous Vincent van Gogh painting and gave it a Swarthmore twist.
The contest had been on hiatus for several years, but proved to be a welcome addition to the Garnet Homecoming and Family Weekend slate of events.
“When talking about the weekend and how we could make Sharples special, Associate Director of Dining Services Amanda Karpen suggested this might be a good time to revive an old tradition,” says Dining Services Director Linda McDougall. “We all agreed and thought it would be fun for parents and alumni visiting campus and enjoying lunch in Sharples to vote on their favorite carvings.”
To promote the event, Dining Services gave away 30 pumpkins with the hope of getting 20 entries for the contest. Other designs included Parrish Hall, a rose, and a recreation of “The Scream” by Edvard Munch.
“We loved the creativity and fun this event brought to the weekend and we hope to continue the tradition,” says McDougall.
