On the afternoon of May 11, University of Delaware students, faculty and staff celebrated the second annual I Heart UD Day, an afternoon offering Blue Hens a break from their end-of-semester responsibilities and an opportunity to demonstrate their UD pride, and to gain an understanding of philanthropy. 

Activities across campus prompted students to reflect on the reasons they love UD and share that love with the University community. 

Activities on The Green

On The Green, student groups, University representatives and local businesses enticed students with fun-filled UD themed games and prizes. Friends were found posing with props in front of posters sharing their love for UD at the photo station, Jimmie John’s pinned hungry Blue Hens against one another in a sandwich eating contest and UD Dining Services handed out warm chocolate chip cookies to those who still had space in their stomachs.

Students walked from table to table connecting with one another, chatting about their fondest memories at UD while learning about the philanthropy that makes it all possible. Many students wrote thank you notes to first time donors at the Thanks for Tanks table. 

“It’s such a good idea because it’s a really easy way for students to engage with donors and help them feel connected to our campus community,” said senior Noelle Pickett as she organized already written notes.

A few feet away a group of giggling friends arrived in a golf cart that had been transformed into the Class Cab. “The cart loops around campus, and if you get three questions wrong it drops you off where ever you are at the time and you never make it back to The Green,” explained junior Eryka Bradley. “We only got one question wrong. None of us could remember the second line of the Fight Song!”

The UD Bucket List

UD Student Alumni Ambassadors (UDSAA) awarded individuals who could correctly answer UD Bucket List themed trivia questions with a tech tattoo or other tchotchke. 

“The UD Bucket List encourages Blue Hens to stay engaged with the University as both students and alumni,” said UDSAA member and senior Amanda Schwartz. “We wanted to make sure today’s event gave students the chance to check some items off.”

Blue Hens happily took advantage of these opportunities by lounging on benches eating UDairy Creamery ice cream, posing for photos with mascot YoUDee, high-fiving their dean or the UD president and signing their class banner. Under the kissing arches located next to Memorial Hall, UDSAA members handed out Hershey kisses so students could check “Visit the Famous Kissing Arches” off their list, too.

Surprise and delight bags

All around campus, Social Media Ambassadors handed out blue and gold surprise and delight bags, sponsored by the Office of Communications and Public Affairs, to fellow students. Ambassadors jokingly snuck up on unsuspecting students and in between bouts of laughter they acknowledged recipients for being such great Blue Hens. 

From students studying in Morris Library to those exercising at the Little Bob, excited recipients shared why they love UD and graciously accepted their thoughtful gift bags.

“We can’t say what’s in the bags because they are a surprise,” said Brittany Kahn, UDSAA vice president of philanthropy education. “But I can say that they are meant to encourage students and bring a little fun to their day.”

An event organizer said Blue Hens walked away from I Heart UD Day brimming with pride and with a strengthened sense of connection with one another and the University they all call home. 

For all those looking to fall in love with UD all over again, click here to view a video recapping the afternoon.

About the Office of Development and Alumni Relations

The Office of Development and Alumni Relations (DAR) engages donors, alumni, friends, parents, faculty, staff and students in a lifelong relationship and fosters a tradition of philanthropy to strengthen the University’s legacy as one of the great public institutions of higher education in America.

For more information, call 302-831-2341.