WESTFIELD – A team of faculty and staff from Westfield State University is currently knocking on the doors of businesses in the city to offer them several opportunities to introduce themselves to students as they arrive on campus.
Valerie Tremblay, Coordinator of New Student Programs at WSU and Vanessa Diana, WSU English professor, have developed three major events during Welcome Week where they would like to partner with local businesses.
The annual HOOT Day, which stands for Helping Out Our Town, will be held this year on Tuesday, September 6 from 8 a.m. to noon. HOOT Day is an opportunity for Westfield students to give back to the town and get involved with community service before the semester begins. Anyone interested in having some students help out with a project, contact Brent Bean at 413-485-7362, or by email at [email protected].
The WESTFIELD VENDOR FAIR will be held for the first time this year on the Campus Green (or inside Ely Campus Center in case of rain) on Wednesday, Sept. 7 from 1-4 p.m.
The fair will be an opportunity for students, faculty and staff to learn more about local businesses in one central location. The Welcome Week team is hoping that businesses will provide handouts (menus, specials, student offers) and samples of products. Tables will be set up on the Campus Green and labeled for each business to set up their display.
“Students love giveaways and food, so this will definitely generate a lot of attention and give students an idea of what Westfield has to offer beyond campus,” said Tremblay, who is also the contact for the Vendor Fair. She may be reached at 413-572.5619, or by email at [email protected]
Another new event will be “Westfield Go!” on Saturday, September 10. The event concept was inspired by “Pokémon Go” and will provide students with the opportunity to discover downtown Westfield and its various businesses and resources through a structured scavenger hunt.
The kick-off for “Westfield Go!” will take place that Saturday at 12:30 p.m. on Park Square, with the wrap-up and closing event taking place at 4 p.m. on the Campus Green at Westfield State University. Students will rely on the PVTA bus schedule and Westfield State shuttles to make their way downtown and complete the scavenger hunt on foot.
Area businesses will sign up to be a “stop” on the scavenger hunt. In teams of no more than six, students will travel to the business locations. Once there, teams will take a photo of themselves in the business holding up a sign that says their team name. Each business participating in the hunt will receive a poster to display in their window or front door that indicates they are a stop for the “Westfield Go!” Scavenger Hunt. WSU will also provide businesses with a Welcome Students sign that can be displayed in the business long-term.
Businesses that are not accessible to the town center can still get involved, said Tremblay. Options for businesses not on the travel route include setting up a station and providing snacks or refreshments at the kick-off on Park Square prior to the hunt, or bringing something to campus for the judging and prize distribution after the hunt. Tremblay said they are also looking for prize donations for the scavenger hunt, such as coupons or gift certificates, which may be a perfect way to get students to stop in at your business in the future.
“This is really about bringing the students into the local businesses, and having businesses showcase what they have to offer students,” Tremblay said. Businesses interested in participating in “Westfield Go!” may contact Tremblay at 413-572-5619, or by email at [email protected]. A sign-up form for businesses offering the various options to participate is also available online on the Westfield Go! Facebook page (link: http://tinyurl.com/jsakbor ).
