A Rubber Ducky Race was held at Leona Creek on campus on the second day of Senior Week, Tuesday, April 16th. The event was spearheaded by class President Aisha Gonzalez, class Treasurer Dawna Williams, and Senior Class Advisor, Laura Engelken.
The senior class sold rubber ducks all of last week in the Adams Plaza for $2 a piece, or three ducks for $5. They also sold some today by the creek by the F.W. Olin Library for any last minute participants. Everyone was welcome to participate. Spectators, ranging from continuing students to children of current Mills students, were eagerly waiting on the side of the creek for their precious duckies to be the first to cross the finish line.
Charity Walden, senior, bought six ducks to help donate to her class as well as raise her chances of winning the race.
“Aisha and Dawna have done just a really great job at these senior events and end of the year celebrations,” Walden said. “I also really wanted to donate to the senior class because it’s very important to do so, especially percentage-wise. We’re really excited to get the percentage up for the senior class.”
Walden excitedly waited on the side of the creek along with the other participants.
“I’m excited!” Walden said. “All six of these ducks, they’re all good ducks. I’ve trained them well.”
Dawna Williams MC-ed the event on the bridge crossing between Lisser Hall and Holmgren Meadow. The race started in the creek by Post Rd. and ended by the library. Some people followed their ducks from start to finish. Most, like CJ Roessler, a continuing student class of 2015, anxiously waited at the finish line.
Roessler was more than willing to participate just to enjoy herself and have a good time.
“I like having fun and a duck race just seems like so much fun to me,” Roessler said.
Roessler put her creativity to use by decorating her three ducks: a diva duck, a baby beanie duck, and a graduate duck with dreadlocks.
The race itself was off to slow start because the creek was relatively calm today, despite the windy weather. Aisha Gonzalez and Laura Engelken had to give the ducks a little push along the way. By the end of the race, all of the ducks were floating upside down from all of the dedicated “motivation” Gonzalez and Engelken were giving them.
Duck #9, owned by Allison Marin, our very own Alumnae Outreach Coordinator and a member of the class of 2012, won the race! The prize was a Rubber Ducky trophy created by Eleanor Strader.
