BRIDGEWATER, Va. – Bridgewater College’s BC United and Campus Engagement and Activity Team (CEAT) hosted a Cozy Bingo Night on Saturday, Jan. 17, bringing students together for games, prizes and connection in the Kline Campus Center.
The cozy-themed night offered bingo rounds, refreshments and raffles, creating a low-pressure environment for students to relax and connect with each other.
Katie Seymour, Wellness Education Director and head of BC United, said the event aimed to touch on many aspects of student wellness.
“I think the clearest one is social, having the gathering space, building community, and with the cozy theme, we’re also trying to hit on some of the physical and mental wellness,” Seymour said.
According to Higher Education Today, a publication of the American Council on Education, campus leaders, faculty and staff play a critical role in fostering a culture of wellness by promoting accessible activities on campus. These events can help students feel valued and connected to their campus community.
“Our hope is that students see their desire for events reflected in the events that we’re doing,” Seymour said. “We really do try to listen to what the students are saying and what they want.”
Student engagement through campus events is often tied to broader student success efforts. According to Momentus, an event management platform, events that encourage participation outside of the classroom can help strengthen students’ sense of belonging.
Environmental science student Elexis Harf said that she attends every bingo night offered by BC, often using these events to meet new people.
“It just gives everybody a chance to come out to the K and do something that you don’t usually do, and you meet a lot of people,” Harf said. “And when you leave you could have a new friend and everything.”
Wellness-centered prizes included a massage gift card, bean-bag chairs, a National Parks pass and a Hatch alarm clock.
“I was really, really excited,” Harf said about winning a large Bridgewater hoodie. “I actually didn’t go up there at first because I was just taking it all in.”
Seymour said that events like Cozy Bingo Night give students a reason to engage with campus life beyond the classroom.
“Giving people the space to come together, especially at the beginning of the semester, gives students a chance to either reconnect with friends they didn’t get to see over break or to make new friends,” Seymour said.
