Local restaurants, shops and cultural attractions hope to attract hundreds of students downtown for the second “Welcome Back Students Day,” Saturday, Sept. 27.
The event, scheduled from 1 to 6 p.m., is a follow-up to last year’s “Show Me Schenectady,” sponsored by the Union-Schenectady Alliance (USA). The group was created by recent Union graduates Steve Walker and Josh DeBartolo to enhance relationships between the College and the city. More than 400 students turned out last year to sample city life.
The Downtown Schenectady Improvement Corp. (DSIC), Chamber of Schenectady County and Proctors Theatre are key sponsors of the event, which now includes Schenectady County Community College (SCCC) students.
“By familiarizing students early on with downtown’s many shopping, dining and entertainment options, we hope to encourage them to return regularly,” said DSIC Executive Director Jim Salengo.
“I’ve become passionate about working with the city. My motivation to organize these downtown days comes from seeing how many students come to Schenectady and take advantage of the city’s offerings after these big events,” said Ariel Sincoff-Yedid ’09, USA co-chair.
Students can pick up a program at Robb Alley at Proctors. Businesses will offer discounts or merchandise throughout the afternoon for those presenting special tickets, available for purchase at Proctors from noon to 5 p.m. Local musicians and college groups will perform throughout the day, and an after-party will be held from 6 to 7 p.m. in Robb Alley, featuring Union a cappella groups.
Two highlights of the day are “Scrabble-ectady,” featuring a special game board, and the “Cultural Crawl,” a trivia contest.
Bringing Union, SCCC and the city together “is the best way to create the sort of lively downtown that will make us an enviable college town,” said Philip Morris, CEO of Proctors.
Dave Brown ’10, USA co-chair, said he is looking forward to showing students “just how alive and close their backyard is.”