The smell of barbecue hot dogs and hamburgers permeated through the crowds of people who were laughing, dancing and jumping on moonwalks during the SCAD Way Festival on May 15. The festival was a part of SCAD’s 30th birthday celebration.
Neither thunderstorm predictions nor the heat stopped guests from enjoying food, a band performance and other entertainment along the blocked-off street.
Marcus Mister, director of student life and one of the event’s organizers, said the festival wasn’t just about celebrating SCAD’s birthday, though.
“It was also to bring faculty, staff, and students together and also our alumni and neighbors together,” said Mister.
“We wanted everyone to come out and have a good time.”
A biggest draw to the event: food.
Daniel Flaherty, a fourth-year animation student, said his favorite part of the festival was the free food.
“I came here because I am a starving artist, and so they had food here,” Flaherty said. “The music is really nice. People are just walking around and people are doing things.”
Valentina Johnson, a second-year fashion marketing and management major also said she enjoyed the food, but other things kept her attention, too.
“I came here because it was something new, kind of get to know people, and there were lots of fun activities.”
Students also came to relax and take a break from the daily grind.
“I needed to distress myself and to have a lot of fun with music and dance,” said Monisha Pillai, second-year fashion student.
Brandon Wilson, a fourth-year illustration student and others, said they enjoyed attending the festival the with friends.
“It was a really good break because I graduate in [two] weeks and plus, finals is in [two] weeks, and so homework is stressing me out. It was a good way for us to come out to relieve stress and just to have fun,” he said.
“I think it was nice for everybody to [have fun] because everybody was stressed out,” said Yunah Ko, graduate fashion student.
Alumni also joined the event and participated in the festivities.
Missy Roode, who graduated in 2006 with a degree in animation from SCAD-Savannah, said: “I had been to the Atlanta campus a couple of years ago when it wasn’t really as fleshed out as it is and so, I really wanted to see it again,” Roode, it’s now really big and it’s thriving.”
Art Malloy, dean of student services, said he hopes the event grows as SCAD grows.
“We can only expect it to get bigger and bigger every year,” he said.
Photos By Rachel Chaikof
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