For the last three years, Ohio Northern’s Student Planning Committee (SPC) has hosted Taste of Ada to provide students with a fun and engaging environment in which they can bond with students over free food from the restaurants in Ada.
This year, the event was held on October 20 from 6:30pm – 9pm. For two and a half hours, the King Horn indoor track and field arena held seven of the restaurants that are located in Ada, each having their own station. The seven restaurants that took part were Padrones, East of Chicago, Viva Maria, Tavern 101, Subway, El Campo, and Jalapenos.
The King Horn facility is set up for Taste of Ada as students go through line to get served. (Northern Review Photo / Emma Bell)
Sandra Gasler, event organizer, thought the event was a success. With great choices of food, music, and games. The turnout left lines running out of the King Horn facility.
Student Planning Committee serves a student Subway. (Northern Review Photo / Emma Bell)
“Taste of Ada this year was a huge hit, as it has been the last three years. We are representing the community of Ada and bringing the student body together. The event ran smoothly from years past, food wise there was enough to serve everyone,” Gasler said.`
Student Planning Committee members served food at the stations and after their shift they were able to walk around, chat with friends, and play games.
Senior Gwen Avery said that she has helped with this event ever since it was started and she felt this year was a big improvement from the previous years.
Gwen Avery serves pizza from Padrones to ONU students. (Northern Review Photo / Emma Bell)
I actually loved seeing the turnout this year. It definitely was a smoother run this year. The student planning committee had a better idea of how much food from each restaurant to cater and the little things that we needed to do. For example we set up more tables and chairs for friends and different organizations to sit together. But the food is always the best part. The one thing the Student Planning Committee wants to improve for next year is trying to get Taco Bell and Starbucks to cater as well.
–Gwen Avery
After the event was over Sandra Gasler said that the event planning was hard because the committee was unsure if many students would show up, if there was going to be enough food, or if there were only going to be certain food stations that were big hits and other food stations that students stayed away from. However, Gasler said all the hard thinking paid off in the end.
Students wait in line at the food stations in Taste of Ada, as Student Planning Committee members serve food. (Northern Review Photo / Emma Bell)
“The planning was time consuming and stressful. There was a lot of communication between restaurants and the committee. The setup consisted of setting up chairs, tables, games, and the music. To see it all come together, put a huge smile on my face,” said Gasler.
Taste of Ada is beneficial night to the students on campus because it is a great way to try new restaurants without having to pay, meet up with friends, and play games.
Student receives food, thanking the SPC. (Northern Review Photo / Emma Bell)