On Saturday, February 8, Catawba College will be gearing up for its annual Winterfest celebration, a dance that allows students to let loose and have fun while on campus. Normally held in the Crystal Peeler Lounge, this year’s dance will be in the gymnasium complete with decorations, food, music, and entertainment.
The Catawba women’s group, Helen Foil Beard, which is named after the first women to graduate from Catawba College, are in charge of organizing the event and are especially excited about this year due to the possible increase in student turn-out with the change in venue. According to President Mary Catherine Feola, last Winterfest was good. However, due to the lounge’s limitations in size, students were turned away as a safety precaution and this time around the group plans to make sure that every Catawba student has an opportunity to go. When discussing the event Feola’s choice of words to describe this year’s dance were “bigger and better” than any of the previous Winterfest celebrations.
The dance is a semi-formal affair, meaning cocktail or full length dresses for women and button up shirts and dress pants for the men. Additionally, this year’s theme is Mardi Gras Masquerade which will include New Orleans-style decor with additions such as the traditional mardi gras beads (won through school appropriate means, of course) and masquerade mask which will also serve as a ticket of entrance for students. Tickets are only a dollar and go on sale the week of February 3rd with senior tickets available on Monday, Juniors on Tuesday, Sophomores on Wednesday, Freshman on Thursday, and Friday being available for miscellaneous or guests tickets. In staying true to their goals of empowering and aiding women, the proceeds collected by Helen Foil Beard will be going to the Women’s batter shelter to aid victims of domestic violence. “The group does not pocket any of the money,” Feola said proudly. “All the proceeds are going to the women’s shelter so it is basically a donation rather than a purchase.”
Winterfest is not the only event that the group is responsible for as Helen Foil Beard also organizes the Bake Sale for Breast Cancer and the Womanless Beauty Pageant here at Catawba. They are always looking for more inspired female students to join them in an effort to promote a strong sense of education and female empowerment.
