Laughter and excitement filled the air. Music was pumping, lights were flashing and the ninth and tenth grade students were enjoying the annual freshman and sophomore party. 

This year’s celebration for underclassmen, held in the Ogilvie lobby of the Katz arts building, was Las Vegas-themed.

Packed in the lobby were various casino games ranging from roulette to craps to blackjack, a cornhole area where students battled it out in competitive tournaments and even a bounce house.

“The various different games made the party more fun. I really enjoyed playing the casino games and never ran out of things to do,” said sophomore Evan Rohde.

Freshmen and sophomores had the chance to win a wide variety of raffle prizes, from Stanley cups to $100 gift cards and even the latest AirPods, which was the most popular among the students.

For students like sophomore Carlton Walton, the frustration of losing at the roulette table served as a reminder about the risks associated with gambling. 

“Losing at the roulette table was very frustrating. It helps me understand why I should not get addicted to gambling. I guessed odd every time, and it was rarely ever odd,” said sophomore Carlton Walton.

Unlike Walton, who was very unlucky at the roulette tables, losing on almost every spin of the wheel, Pierce Hicks had exceptional luck. Winning on almost every spin of the wheel, Hicks compiled by far the most chips of any student, which significantly helped when it came time to announce the raffle winner. 

“When my name was called for the Yeti Cooler, I was relieved that the hour and a half of work I put in at the tables wasn’t for nothing,” Hicks said. “It was really liberating.”

For the majority that did not win a raffle, the night was still a resounding success.