To honor Simpson’s 150 year of service, Religious Life Community (RLC) sponsored their First Annual Five Dollar Formal and Beggar’s Banquet in Great Hall this past Saturday.

The dinner and dancing combination made for a lively evening of fellowship. In order to play along with the fun night, each attendant’s attire was to cost no more than five dollars.

Continuing with Simpson’s tradition of service to the community, admission to the banquet was a donation of a non-perishable food item or any used clothing item that were then donated to Students in Free Enterprise (SIFE) and The Campbell’s Soup Drive and Bidwell Riverside.

Hannah Landgraf, event coordinator and RLC president, initially developed the idea of the banquet from students around campus.

“We are not trying to make RLC a campus-wide event,” Landgraf said. “Rather, we are trying to connect RLC to the rest of campus by hosting events open to all students.”

Landgraf decided to take the initiative to get the event started.

“RLC heard there was money available to student groups interested in putting on one time campus-wide events, and we wanted to do something fun and different for the Simpson community,” Landgraf said.

Landgraf then took her acquired information to RLC to further discuss proposals as to what event they could possibly put on. The completed idea was achieved after many ideas were bounced around.

“I had the initial idea, but everyone was throwing in different ideas of events for the night,” Landgraf said.

With service acting as the inspiration for the banquet, the First Annual Five Dollar Formal and Beggar’s Banquet was created.

Megan Culbertson, chapel intern of service and mission, believed that service should be the main theme.

“The purpose of the banquet is a celebration of service,” Culbertson said. “It will help [members of the Simpson community] to be aware of the many people on campus doing service…it is what makes us Simpson.”

Carrie Wubben, chapel intern of witness and welcome thinks the chances for service at Simpson has had a large impact on her life.

“The opportunities here are endless,” Wubben said. “It is a great way to bond with other students on campus, as well as those you are serving, because it takes learning out of the classroom and into a less formal, more comfortable setting in which students can have a shared experience to build their relationship on.”

Stephanie Neve, service coordinator/assistant Chaplin, shared how service has impacted her life here at Simpson.

“Coordinating service events for students and encouraging students to engage in service is one of the most important components of my job,” Neve said. “Ultimately, service is a worthwhile experience no matter the reason for getting involved.”

The Campbell Soup Drive is going on until April 15. The clothing drive will also be continued for the month. Donations can still be brought directly to the chapel.

“This is the first event of its kind that RLC has hosted,” Landgraf said. “The food was delicious, the DJ was great, and everyone in attendance had a great time. RLC will definitely be attempting to hold a yearly event much like this one.”