New Student Orientation wraps up, UPEI Shiners raise record $30,080

UPEI President Alaa Abd-El-Aziz, VP Academic Jim Randall, several deans, faculty and staff, and donors and sponsors joined 300 students at the New Student Orientation (NSO) final banquet, September 8, at the Wanda Wyatt Dining Hall, to celebrate what was, according to NSO student coordinator Anastasia Smallwood, 'the most spirited NSO week ever at UPEI.'

After a number of speeches thanking first-year students for their enthusiasm and to NSO student leaders for their dedication, Smallwood called upon Shinerama student coordinator Donald Buchanan to address the group.

Buchanan explained that the NSO committee began to promote online giving for the national university and college fundraiser that supports cystic fibrosis research in June, and that these early efforts paid off in a tremendous way. One first-year student, Kaitlyn Parks, was the top online fundraiser in the country raising $2,247, and UPEI students, collectively known as the UPEI Shiners, led the country in online donations before NSO even officially started on September 3.

Actual ‘Shine Day' took place September 6, and despite rain and cool temperatures, students sang, danced, and shouted throughout the Charlottetown area to solicit donations. Buchanan noted that currency from around the world, from pesos to euros to yen, along with a few Cavendish Beach Music Festival tokens and even washers, were found in the numerous donation boxes.

Buchanan then broke the suspense and said, 'UPEI has broken its record-with online and Shine Day donations combined, the UPEI Shiners have raised a whopping $30,080. I am so proud,' at which time the entire audience stood on their feet and erupted into the recognizable chant, 'shine-a, ram-ma.' Buchanan read several messages of congratulations including those from national Shinerama coordinator and UPEI graduate, Ryan McDermott, and Cystic Fibrosis Canada. He added that the Charlottetown City Police also commended UPEI students for conducting the fundraiser in a safe manner.

Smallwood officially closed NSO 2011 with a few closing remarks, 'I wish this week would never end, but I look forward to NSO 2012 because after witnessing your amazing spirit , I know many of you will return to be NSO student leaders next year!'

UPEI's NSO organizers will find out later this fall how its Shinerama fundraising compared with other universities, after Cystic Fibrosis Canada tallies results from across the country.