Date: March 16, 2006
Contact: pr@andrews.edu
Website:
Phone: 269-471-3322

The organizers of the March 12-13 Andrews University Junior Preview decided to experiment a little this year.  Instead of the traditional campus tour and career fair, it was time for what was called The Amazing Race. 

On Sunday, March 13, between 170 and 175 students from seven Lake Union academies visited each of the 25 academic departments at Andrews.  Styled after the television program "The Amazing Race," student groups were given a clue at each department.  The juniors, accompanied by an Andrews student, then guessed which department they had to visit next. Each department presented a brief "commercial" featuring their programs as well as career opportunities for graduates.  On Monday, the students were taken to the Campus Center where they signed up for two programs each for more detailed presentations. "A lot of kids said they had no idea we had so many things on our campus," said Shelly Erhard, guest services coordinator and the event's main organizer.

The two-day preview was about more than just academics. Sunday night featured a formal dinner spiced by live jazz from Cardinal Number and student soloist Jasmine Zork.  After worship in the Pioneer Memorial Church youth chapel, it was time for AU Games at Johnson gym.  Jumping for Andrews hats that were thrown into the crowd; trying to avoid getting thrown off the mechanical bull and navigating a huge obstacle course called the purple people eater, were just some of the night's activities.

Speaking about the preview Erhard said, "We had awesome weather, the students seemed to thoroughly enjoy it, and our Andrews faculty say they would do the Amazing Race again... I think it was a win/win for everybody."