The 18th annual ’Roo Boo at Austin College, hosted by the local chapter of Alpha Phi Omega national service fraternity, will be held Wednesday, October 25, from 6 to 8 p.m. in Sid Richardson Center of the Robert T. Mason Athletic-Recreation Complex, off Brockett Street and just east of the football stadium.
The theme for this year’s family-friendly event is American Hor Roo-r Story. Children 12 and younger are invited to wear their costumes and participate in this free event. Parental supervision is required. Austin College Police will be on patrol during the event.
The event is a safe alternative to traditional trick-or-treating and will offer a bounce house, animal balloons, and various games, booths, and prizes offered by campus organizations. Plenty of free candy is available for participants. Austin College student volunteers, representing more than 55 student organizations, will be dressed in costume for the Halloween celebration.
Alpha Phi Omega is founded on the principles of leadership, friendship, and service, said Shirley Banh, a junior from Garland, Texas, and coordinator of this year’s event. “This event allows college students with a deep-rooted love for volunteering and heart for community service to invest their time for a night of fun and plenty of candy for the families in the Texoma community.”
In 2016, more than 1,200 people attended the event, which was served by more than 250 campus volunteers.
Local businesses are asked to make donations of candy and gift certificates for the Austin College event by contacting Alpha Phi Omega event coordinator Shirley Banh at abanh15@austincollege.edu or call the Office of Public Affairs at903.813.2891.
Austin College, a private national liberal arts college located north of Dallas in Sherman, Texas, has earned a reputation for excellence in academic preparation, international study, pre-professional foundations, leadership development, committed faculty, and hands-on, adventurous learning opportunities. One of 40 schools profiled in Loren Pope’s influential book Colleges That Change Lives, Austin College boasts a welcoming community that embraces diversity and individuality, with more than 36 percent of students representing ethnic minorities. A residential student body of 1,250 students and a faculty of more than 100 allow a 13:1 student-faculty ratio and personalized attention. The College is related by covenant to the Presbyterian Church (USA) and cultivates an inclusive atmosphere that supports students’ faith journeys regardless of religious tradition. Founded in 1849, the College is the oldest institution of higher education in Texas operating under original name and charter.