Rubber ducks raced, or rather floated, for a cause in the Park Hall pond Sunday afternoon.
Epsilon Sigma Alpha held the first Adopt a Duck event Sunday, which boasted an interesting, however slow, race between adopted rubber ducks.
The race took nearly 20 minutes, with the ducks slowly floating downstream, only to be pushed back by the strong wind gusts, accompanied by groans and yells by those cheering on the anonymous ducks.
Almost 700 ducks were adopted, event coordinator Ashley Noga said. Each duck raised a dollar for ESA’s philanthropy Camp Riley, a camp that allows children with physical disabilities to enjoy a summer camp experience tailored to their abilities.
Senior speech-language pathology major Erica Johnson took home the first place prize of $200.
“I was shocked to actually win,” said Johnson, who is also an officer of ESA.
Johnson said she actually bought six ducks to help out her sorority. She said she wasn’t sure what she would do with the money.
“I may just put it back and buy something neat for my apartment,” she said.
Second and third place winners won $100 and $50, respectively.
Sophomore communications major and ESA member Haley Miller said she wanted to support the event and Camp Riley because she wanted her college career to be remembered.
“I want people to be like, ‘She did something more than just go to class,’” she said. “[Adopt a Duck] was a great way to meet people and make friends, as well as make a difference.”
The event was more than just a way to raise money for a worthy cause, Noga said; it also served as a way to invite the Munice community to campus and show kids that school can be more than tests and homework.
“I think it was a really family-friendly event, not only can students participate but kids wanted to see the ducks and play the games,” Noga said. “The main goal was to show kids that college is fun.”
Muncie resident Shelbi Morgan brought her 8-year-old son Dane to the event because she wanted to support the university.
She said it is good for ESA to plan events with children friendly activities and themes because it allows the Muncie community to be a part of what happens on campus.
“It is hard to find something for [my son] to do sometimes, but this was great,” Morgan said.
John and Haley Chope came from Camby, Ind., because their daughter helped organize the event. They said it was beneficial to have an event to invite families.
“It’s great to have stuff like [Adopt a Duck]; you help out the kids at Riley which is the point but you also get to see what Ball State is all about,” John Chope said.
Taya Ashley, an early child education and special education major, said she enjoyed seeing so many families at the event, and there should be more events like it.
“They did a great job of bringing out the community,” she said “You see lots of little children running around.”
