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Fuel for Finals reboots for Spring Semester

By Brenda Rayner, Saluqi Success Pathway Coach

A student at the Whitehaven Center writes an encouraging message to classmates on the interactive Wishing Well during Fuel for Finals.

A student at the Whitehaven Center writes an encouraging message to classmates on the interactive Wishing Well during Fuel for Finals.

The Saluqi Success Pathway program teamed up with Student Development to host Fuel for Finals at the Whitehaven and Maxine A. Smith centers during semester finals, April 29 - May 2. The center’s directors requested the popular event that is quickly becoming a tradition during finals week. The four-day event encourages and supports students studying for and taking finals by providing free breakfast, lunch and an interactive Wishing Well for positive affirmations. Fuel for Finals debuted during the 2018 Fall semester at the SSP Hubs on the Union Avenue and Macon Cove campuses.

“Fuel for Finals was an excellent stress reliever for the Whitehaven students,” Whitehaven Center Director Dr. Verneta Boone said. “It created a positive atmosphere and the smooth, old-school music from ‘MAZE’ gave students a calm, happy feeling.”

Whitehaven Center students expressed their gratitude with such comments as, “We can’t believe you all came all the way down here just to feed us,” and “Thank you all for thinking of us at the Whitehaven Center.”

Executive Director of Extended Programs Harry Taylor says the staff at the Maxine A. Smith Center decided some time ago they wanted to provide an environment for the students where they could feel less stressed about exams. “Some of our students get really stressed out and are anxious about their grades,” he said. “We wanted to give them an opportunity to forget about whatever was going on and just relax, have a bite to eat, and enjoy some relaxing music and a quiet room.”

Emergency Management Technician student Cameron Stott, who was finishing the State Licensure Application at the Maxine A. Smith Center, said he appreciated all the fuss and food by staff during finals week. “It’s great, this really helps! Thank you very much for the breakfast.”

More than 700 grab-and-go meals were distributed collectively at both centers.  T-shirt drawings were held to add to the excitement.  Terry Pruitt, a student who attends the Whitehaven Center, and a member of the Class of 2019, was one of the lucky T-shirt winners.

 

Maxine A. Smith Center EMT students grabbed breakfast before completing their State Licensure Application.

Maxine A. Smith Center EMT students grabbed breakfast before completing their State Licensure Application.

Retention and Student Success Program Specialist Alma Hernandez (right) hands out tickets for the t-shirt drawing on the Maxine A. Smith Campus.

Retention and Student Success Program Specialist Alma Hernandez (right) hands out tickets for the T-shirt drawing at the Maxine A. Smith Center.

 Terry Pruitt, one of the winners of the Fuel for Finals t-shirt drawing at the Whitehaven Center.

Terry Pruitt, one of the winners of the Fuel for Finals T-shirt drawing at the Whitehaven Center.