Food, fun and prizes drew more than 100 UC Merced students and others to downtown Merced on Aug. 25, for the inaugural CatCrawl.
Degree Attainment for Returning and Transfer Scholars (DARTS), Office of Student Life and Alumni Relations hosted the event to showcase the food and entertainment offered in Merced.
Groups of 20-30 students toured downtown businesses including Coffee Bandits, J&R Tacos, Playhouse Merced, Cue Spot Billiards, Five Ten Bistro, Second Time Around Used Books, Red Sky Comics, Tigers and Daggers Records and the Merced Multicultural Arts Center (MMAC).
“Our goal was to introduce students to a sampling of businesses downtown and acquaint them with their new community,” DARTS Program Coordinator Michelle Greenwood said. “It was a successful evening and we look forward to continuing it for years to come.”
Students explored shops and other spots and met new friends in the process. Restaurants gave away free food including coffee, pasta and tacos, and businesses offered free comic books, billiard play and an exclusive live theater performance. Students participated in an art activity at the MMAC and had the opportunity to view the “Transitions” photo exhibit by photographer Roger Wyan, which highlights UC Merced graduates as they were in 2009 and what they are doing now.
Nearly 30 student and professional staff members and volunteers helped coordinate the evening.
