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On Friday, Campus Life is presenting the Wake Up People Blowout. Taking place in the Cook Carriage House from 8:00 p.m.-2:00 a.m., the event will be an entertaining night for students, faculty and staff.

Aquinas has teamed with Pepsi and other sponsors from the Grand Rapids area to make the party full to the brim with delicious food, amazing entertainment and great prizes.

Brann’s Steakhouse, Little Caesars, Pietro’s and Qdoba Mexican Grill are a few of the restaurants pitching in with snacks for the evening. Pepsi will be offering refreshments, along with free coffee served by Moose baristas.

“It’s going to be huge; it would be a night I definitely wouldn’t mind working,” said sophomore Brad Larabell, a Moose barista.

The entertainment will include musical guests, AQ Idol and a live broadcast with Grand Rapids radio station, 104.5 WSNX.

Throughout the night will be raffles for anyone with a valid Aquinas I.D. Among the winnings are a Sony home theater system, a MacBook Air and movies for a year at Celebration! Cinema. Other raffle prizes include gift certificates to restaurants around Grand Rapids and apparel from sponsors.

“I’m going just for a chance at the prizes,” said sophomore Leslie Buikema. “Movies for a year would be awesome.”

The Wake Up People Blowout can easily be considered one of the biggest parties Aquinas has had this year — or ever.

Dave Weinandy, professor of communication and special assistant to the provost for Campus Life, is hoping it will “become an Aquinas tradition.” With help from generous alumni, volunteer donations from local businesses and the hard work of the Campus Life staff, the event came together in a short amount of time and with no planned budget.

“I don’t want to hear students saying they’re going to Michigan State for an event. I want students at Michigan State to say they’re going to Aquinas for an event,” Weinandy said.
If that was the goal, the Campus Life staff planned an event that could accomplish it — especially as this Aquinas event is completely free of charge and welcome to all.

“This is the first time I’ve heard of something happening at the Carriage House and really felt I couldn’t miss it,” said sophomore Luke Sprunger. Friday would be a good time for all to follow Sprunger’s lead and head down to the Cook Carriage House for a fun-filled evening.