Check out the promotional video for Bulldog Bubblegum Blast.
Ferris State University is ready to start what it hopes is a world-record year by creating a new tradition. Students, faculty, staff and Big Rapids-area community members are invited to participate in the Bulldog Bubblegum Blast on Thursday, Sept. 6 in the Campus Quad.
Ferris' Center for Leadership, Activities and Career Services has collaborated with the university's Bulldog Beginnings committee and several community volunteers to develop this evening event. The Bulldog Bubblegum Blast is anticipated to be the first of several annual world record challenges, to be hosted as part of welcome back celebrations. The Bulldog Bubblegum Blast begins at 6 p.m. and will build up to the world record attempt, and Albright said all their activities will conclude by 8 p.m.
“We have applied to the Guinness Book of World Records, as we seek to challenge the current record of the most people in one place, blowing bubbles with bubble gum,” said CLACS’ coordinator Michele Albright. “The current record is 881, which came on July 11 this year, at the Eastern League All-Star Game in Trenton, New Jersey. Our goal is to have 1,000 people or more participate.”
Marina Robbins, a student employee of the CLACS office from Marlette and a junior in Ferris’ Social Work program said their plans include securing volunteer counters so that they can certify the record attempt.
“We are producing YouTube videos, posters, flyers, and window stickers, all to promote this event,” Robbins said. “We will have to group people in teams of 20, to facilitate an accurate and easy count. We will be ready to address up to 1,500 participants, and we will hope for even more. It’s not a hard task to blow a bubble, but we will have to be organized.” There will also be entertainment, mini bubble challenges with bubble soccer, and balloon pops for prizes. Everyone that participates will leave with a commemorative item."
Caitlin Dorton, a junior from Crystal Falls and Nursing student at Ferris is also on CLACS’ event team and said they hope to establish an annual tradition of world record attempts that are orchestrated by their office.
“We know that there are all kinds of things that we can do, but we plan to offer prizes and giveaways at each event, to help add to a student’s motivation to participate,” Dorton said. “We are thankful that the Construction Management program has agreed to build our ‘Gum Wall,’ so the materials are gathered up after this event, without leaving a mess.”
The Bulldog Bubblegum Blast is shaping up to be a combined campus and community effort.
“Representatives from Lerner, Csernai and Fath Financial have volunteered to verify participation numbers, we will welcome assistance from the Ferris Rugby team, and other club sports participants will be contestants in our challenges,” Albright said. “Everyone will leave with something to show that they participated, along with other prizes and giveaways. B-103.9 Radio DJs will be our emcees, providing music and entertainment, and have been very supportive by gathering community interest and prizes for this event. We are planning an exciting and fun event to coincide with this world-record attempt, and any other group or organization that would like to be involved should contact CLACS, or call (231) 591-2685.”
Bubblegum Blast is part of Bulldog Beginnings, a 16-day schedule of events designed
to bring Ferris students together at the start of the academic year.
PHOTO CAPTION: Pictured are Ferris State University students Caitlin Dorton (left),
a junior in the Nursing program, and Marina Robbins (right), a junior in Social Work.
The Bulldog Bubblegum Blast is a new Bulldog Beginnings event that is scheduled for
Thursday, Sept. 6 in the Campus Quad.