Southern Nazarene University’s Commuter Life hosted the third annual Commuter Pumpkin Patch on Oct. 22. The event brought commuters together to paint pumpkins and celebrate the fall season.
The graduate assistant for Commuter Life, Jedidiah Huibregtse, along with Emma Riggs, director of Resident and Commuter Life, planned and organized the event. Huibregtse expressed his role is to “make commuters feel more at home on campus by throwing events for them, doing one-on-ones, and making sure they feel loved and seen.” The Commuter Pumpkin Patch reflected that mission by bringing together students who are not often on campus and helping them feel like SNU is a home away from home.
Huibregtse said his favorite part of the event was watching commuters show up for one another, sharing ideas, paint supplies, and even helping clean brushes while getting to know each other better.
This was October’s featured commuter event, in addition to the monthly Commuter Coffee, where students can grab Starbucks before class without spending flex dollars. While commuters are welcome at all campus events outside of residence hall activities, many are unable to attend because evening events require them to commute back to campus. To accommodate that, the Pumpkin Patch was held during the day when many commuters were on their lunch break. Though the event was designed specifically for commuters, several residents joined in to support their friends. The event saw record attendance for a commuter fall event.
Commuter LeAnne Nashire attended with a friend who is also a commuter. While at the event, the pre-physical therapy major painted bees and yellow sunflowers on her pumpkin. “SNU does a really good job of making [commuters] feel included and providing plenty of events that allow us to stay involved,” Nashire said. “It made me feel seen because the event was hosted just for us.”
In addition to the event’s record-breaking turnout, commuter involvement across campus has grown this year. Many commuters now serve in SALT and Senate, participate in SNU Athletics, contribute to The Echo, join clubs, and even earn campus recognition — such as commuter Bethany Crouch, who was nominated for Homecoming Court.
Huibregtse noted that with increased commuter engagement, he has noticed more friendships forming between commuters and residents, often through sports teams, clubs, and other out-of-class environments. He encourages commuter students to get involved in Commuter Life events and other areas of campus by sharing interests and connecting with both commuters and residents alike.
Photo Credits: Trynitie Krout