Often, the Knoll common spaces are filled with students working on homework or scrawling notes across whiteboards as they prepare for upcoming exams. On the evening of April 6, however, the Knoll lobby was abuzz with chatter and rolling dice as students settled in for a night of board games, good food, and time with friends.
Elijah Shirley, a first-year philosophy major, had the idea for a board game-focused community building event when he was asked to come up with a mock proposal for The Contribution Project in an Honors class. The Contribution Project is an organization that awards grants to individuals aged 14-25 in order to help them launch projects and events focused on community building.
“We were just supposed to do a practice proposal, but I ended up actually submitting it to The Contribution Project,” Shirley said.
Shirley’s idea was simple. He planned to buy as many board games as he could, invite Honors students to come together and play them, and then give the games out to participants at the end of the night. After he received a $400 grant from The Contribution Project, he thought it would be fun to provide food in the form of Raising Cane’s chicken fingers for attendees as well.
“I think there is this stigma that helping your community has to be a big commitment,” Shirley said. “But I am a college student, so I thought about easy ways I can contribute to my community every day. The first thing that came to mind was just spending time with my friends.”
Shirley said he hopes the event gave students a stress-free space away from the pressure of homework and exams.
“I hope they can take the moment to relax and play board games with friends, and they walk away with a stronger sense of community,” he said.
According to Shirley, Honors encourages him to think about how he can make a positive impact on his community and the people around him.
“The Honors community itself is very dedicated to building a safe space for everybody,” he said. Shirley’s work embodies the value that Honors places on community and inclusion.
Over 70 students attended the event, taking the opportunity to engage with their peers outside the classroom. Forming meaningful connections is a key part of the Honors experience, and events like Shirley’s provide ample opportunity for students to develop friendships.
“The value of community building events comes down to being able to feel like you have a place, and being comfortable coming out and forming new connections with other students,” said Ibrahim Shaikh, a first-year biochemistry major.
At the end of the night, those in attendance agreed the event was a success. What started as an abstract Honors project turned into meaningful action thanks to Shirley and The Contribution Project Grant. Many attendees walked away with new friends and an appreciation for the chance to unwind before the end of the semester.
