SAAC Hosts Fifth Annual Tartan Olympics
For the second straight year, a group of students from the Beta Fraternity won the Tartan Olympics, claiming a $500 first-place prize on behalf of St. Jude Children’s Hospital. The campus-wide event is open to all students and offers contests in mental, physical and skill-related games.
During the 2008-09 academic year, the Carnegie Mellon Student-Athlete Advisory Council created the Tartan Olympics in an effort to integrate all members of the campus community. On Saturday, January 26, that purpose was once again fulfilled, as more than 200 members of the campus community showed up to display a multitude of talents in a wide range of events.
“The Tartan Olympics is one of the few events where emphasis is put on the all-around skill sets of different students at Carnegie Mellon,” said SAAC co-chair Alex Copeland. “The Tartan Olympics offers the chance for groups of people from very different circles to all equally compete against one another in the spirit of competition. I think that, more than anything else, is what makes the Tartan Olympics such a success and such a great event.”
Eight different events were offered on Saturday – Trivia, Knockout, Checkers, Scientific Discovery, Eating Contest, Karaoke and Dodgeball. A team relay included a sack race, egg walk, word search, Rubik’s Cube, push-ups and putting. On Friday night, participants came together for a pizza party during the women’s basketball game against Washington University and competed in a three-point contest during halftime of the men’s game that evening.
“The Tartan Olympics is a fantastic annual event. It’s a great opportunity for the campus to join together for a night of fun for a good cause,” said co-chair Anna Albi. “It was so great to see such campus-wide diversity participate in the event. SAAC worked really hard this year and Alex and I truly appreciate everyone's contribution.”
On Sunday, Beta was honored for its first-place finish during halftime of the women’s basketball game against Chicago. Donations from the Carnegie Mellon University Store and Dunkin’ Donuts also provided the opportunity to award prizes for the second through fourth-place teams.