Students, faculty get creative with pumpkin-carving contest

October 29

23:25 2009

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By Melissa Boughton / Senior Staff Writer –

Decorated and carved pumpkins lined the tables outside of the third floor Union Gallery Thursday for the University Union’s annual pumpkin carving contest.

Students, faculty and staff brought their pumpkin designs to the Union to be judged Thursday morning for a chance at claiming best of titles for traditional, artistic, concept, spirited and department.

“This is the biggest turnout we have ever had in the six years that we’ve been doing it for SECC,” said Carol Wilkinson, Design Works manager and contest host.

Ashton Carnes, communication design senior, watches as students stop by to cast their vote at the annual pumpkin-carving contest at the Union. (Photo by Melissa Boughton/Photographer)

Votes were cast Thursday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. in exchange for a donation of loose change. Benefits from the fundraiser are supporting the State Employee Charitable Campaign for the sixth year in a row.

Wilkinson said the campaign helps charitable institutions and nonprofit organizations like McDonald’s Ronald McDonald House and the Cancer Society.

The contest was free to enter, and there were a total of 37 pumpkin entries. Designs included classic Halloween faces to pink-painted breast cancer awareness pumpkins, but one theme dominated the batch.

“Swine flu has been a popular topic, so everyone is getting a kick out of that and there are quite a few pig pumpkins,” said Ashton Carnes, communication design senior and contest volunteer.

A dominant theme at the annual pumpkin contest in the Union was swine flu. There were more the three swine flu pumpkin pigs. (Photo by Melissa Boughton/Photographer)

One of the entries used three pumpkins and a toy pig to show “how the swine flu spread.” One of the pumpkins in the design had on a medical mask.

A few other designs included a painting of “Starry Night,” a big pumpkin spider, a jack-in-the-box and a Michael Scott decorated pumpkin from the television show “The Office.”

Rennah Dunavant, an English literature senior, said she wanted to show support for the contest by voting this year.

“I did a pumpkin last year, but I didn’t get a chance to this time,” she said.

Scott Greer, student services coordinator for Student Development, showed up to cast his vote and admire his department’s pumpkin entry.

His department’s pumpkin, titled “UNT for Hope,” was painted in two shades of pink and white with a ribbon for breast cancer awareness month.

“We participate every year and we chose that style of pumpkin for obvious reasons of this being breast cancer awareness month, but also to share some passion for the cause,” Greer said.

Contestants picked up their pumpkins between 4 p.m. and 5 p.m. on Thursday. Awards will be announced today.