York College of PA student activities board earns Regional Campus Program of the Year for Fright Fest

York College of Pennsylvania and its Campus Activities Board have received the Regional Association for the Promotion of Campus Activities (APCA) Campus Program of the Year for its 2021 Fright Fest event, a collaborative effort that featured a haunted house inside an empty residence hall on campus. 

The first event of its kind at York College, 2021 Fright Fest and Haunted House “was a massive success,” said Tamah Miller, Associate Director of Student Activities and Orientation, who submitted the nomination. Collaboration was key to the event and earning the award, according to Miller.

The Campus Activities Board (CAB) partnered with a number of campus offices, including the Campus Safety Office, Housing and Residence Life Office, and Student Activities and Orientation Office to produce a Fright Fest event with multiple elements ­– a Spooky Carnival, Haunted House, and Halloween Movie Night. 

The Spooky Carnival, held in the parking lot of the residence hall turned Haunted House, provided fun activities for guests to participate in while they waited for the Haunted House to open. Participants could create DIY bleach paint/glow-in-the-dark T-shirts or Stuff-a-Boo; and partake of three Escape Game Trailers, photo booth stations, costume contests, themed food stations, and carnival games.

The Haunted House was created inside of an empty campus residence hall, with each room featuring a unique and eerie theme. “Due to an immense amount of collaboration,” Miller said, “two full floors – hallways, rooms, bathrooms, laundry rooms, stairwells, and two lobbies – were transformed for the spooky attraction. Actors from student clubs and the sponsoring offices then staffed these rooms to give the full haunted house experience.”

After guests “survived” the Haunted House, they were invited to unwind with a drive-in movie night, with viewing available from their cars or sitting on blankets. The Halloween classic “Hocus Pocus” was shown, and movie theatre-style popcorn and concessions were available.

“I am happy to submit this program for consideration based on the positive campus-wide kudos received on its success,” Miller wrote in the nomination. “The level of collaboration with offices is unique and proved very beneficial to the overall event. Many people invested a lot of time and personal energy to make the event a success. CAB used their programming knowledge to produce a very successful carnival and embraced the power of their members to support and decorate for the haunted house.”

Fright Fest returned to the York College campus this Halloween, but with an enhanced budget due to last year’s success. York College is now eligible to compete for the national award in March.