This Halloween, the University of Maryland College of Education celebrated with an office-decorating contest and a family-friendly costume party. Departments transformed their suites into themed worlds, with the Department of Teaching and Learning, Policy and Leadership, creating a Jurassic Park adventure, while the Office of Student Services brought Pixar’s “Inside Out” to life. The Jurassic Park experience won the decorating contest, captivating EdTerps with lifelike prehistoric decorations and immersive details, such as a cascading waterfall, a mosquito in amber, and nests filled with dinosaur eggs.
The college’s first-ever costume party for graduate students and their families was organized by the college’s Graduate Student Organization (GSO) Parents Affinity Group with support from Graduate Student Life, the Graduate Student Government, and Immigrant and Undocumented Student Life.
Inspired by her own personal memories of past family events on campus, Tracee Matthias, co-coordinator for the college’s GSO Parents Affinity Group, created a Halloween experience for close to 30 children, who came dressed as characters such as Batman, a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle and a NASA scientist. The party featured a range of activities, including face painting, musical chairs, craft-making, a book giveaway and an appearance from a six-foot-tall dinosaur who led children in the Monster Mash dance. They also enjoyed dinner and took home keepsake Instax photos.
