By Taira Edney
Senior Staff Writer
Pop, pop, pop the noise of the plastic Easter eggs being popped open by students putting candy inside of them. The artificial smell of strawberry, green apple, and cherry candy filled the room, with students carrying on conversations with their friends. Different organizations at TJC came on different days to help stuffed eggs for the Easter Eggstravaganza.
Residential life and Housing Assistant Director Aukse Harris started the Easter Eggstravaganza in 2010, when she first came to TJC.
“I came to TJC in January 2010 and I took a role in the hall program for Residential life and Housing said,” Harris. “I envision all these students on campus having privileges to go to college and to enjoy this tremendous campus.”
Her desire was to create a community service project that is hosted by TJC, but not for TJC.
“Once we do this event on Jenkins lawn, I want the city of Tyler to see TJC being involved with the community that showed that TJC not only do event for students on campus but for the community as well,” said Harris.
The Student Service Fee Advisor Community helps out with Residential Life and Housing, giving how much they need in order to pay for Easter Eggstravaganza.
“We make a proposal to SSFAC, and this year they rewarded us with $4,000,” said Harris.
The Nursing Student Association also helps out with getting money from SSFAC making a proposal for $150 to help with buying more eggs.
Harris said after Easter is over the Residential Life and Housing Directors discuss the Easter Eggstravaganza throughout the year and set up the date on Tuesday before Easter.
“This isn’t something we stop all year round, for example after Easter is over we go to the store and buy eggs on clearance,” said Harris. “Soon as we come back from spring break, that’s when we really start hands on preparing for the event.”
As she pulls out her calendar and began flipping through the pages, looking for the date. She says they began stuffing eggs this year on the first week of February. In January, she goes to Walmart to place an order for 160 bags of candy.
“I literally had two carts full with bags of candy but we just can’t buy any candy because chocolate melts,” said Harris. “I learn my lesson from my second year and the candy has to be hard candy and a certain size, for example this year we have Jolly Ranchers and snack size Twizzlers, which can fit inside the Easter eggs.”
She walked to the room where the eggs are and pointed out the eggs that has already been stuffed with candy. A guy with a gray jacket and blue jeans on said that 93 eggs had already been stuffed with candy inside of them. Harris says with only 40 bags of candy left, they had already used 122 bags.
“This year for the Easter Eggstravaganza we’re going to have about 6,000 to 7,000 eggs for our Easter Eggstravaganza said,” Harris.
As she paced back to her office she pulled out the face painting pens that will be used for this year’s event. She says they will have a lot to offer like hot dog, cotton candy, popcorn, face painting, bouncy houses, sack race, egg race and many more.
With the help of getting money with the SSFAC, Aramark helped donated hotdogs as well as Coca Cola donated water to the event.
The organization that will be helping out with the Easter Eggstravaganza Nursing Students Association , Hispanic Student Association, Apache Football, and CSLI.
This year the Easter Eggstravaganza is at 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday March 31, 2015 and will be located at Jenkins lawn.
Harris says the Easter egg hunt will began early because so many kids be anxious to start the egg hunt and don’t forget to bring an Easter egg basket. Also would like for more faculty to come and help out this year, if so call Assistant Director Aukse Harris at 903-510-3267 or email ahar@tjc.edu.
