In spite of the global pandemic, Hill has still attempted to maintain a normal Hill student experience over the past three months, even virtually. BINGO, Jackbox Games and movies are just a few activities that mimic normal weekend activities while engaging students from across the globe. 

“Our main goal with weekend activities during this time is to keep the community connected while we are all removed from each other in distance,” said English Department Chair Courtney Neese, one of the organizers of BINGO. A popular weekend activity on campus, Neese has worked to transition the game to Zoom, with participants on one call as numbers are called out while referring to an online card assigned by a platform online. As BINGO continues to prove itself as a successful activity, students have been requesting it week after week. In addition, BINGO allows students, no matter of their physical location, a platform to gather. 

According to Neese, “I am thrilled that it has connected our LRP athletes with our students who are still at home for H-term. One of my favorite parts has been watching the entire squash team show up every Saturday night.” 

Maya Brigandi ’22 participated in BINGO and enjoyed her experience very much. “There were some cool prizes. My favorite prize was the socks you could personalize by deciding what picture you want on them,” she said. Brigandi also added that “you get to see Mrs. Neese’s dog. Her dog is adorable!”

David Hoffman, director of student enrichment, experiential education, and activities, stated, “On Mondays, Mr. Ide has run a Music Matters discussion. On Tuesdays, Mr. Lagor has run a GOAT discussion where kids can call in and give their opinions on the best of all time in sports (teams and individuals). He has also run a ​Family Feud​ a few times. On Wednesdays, Doc Malone has run a History of Sports in America for the four sports here on campus during the LRP.” 

He also stated, “During the LRP, we have run a number of other things within our teams (Among Us!, poker nights, board game nights, book discussions, movies in the CFTA, etc.).” Additionally, Mr. Hoffman recently hosted a Teleparty on Netflix and showed ​”The Dawn Wall​,” a documentary about rock climber Tommy Caldwell. 

“We have had much better participation on the weekends, but even those numbers pale in comparison to what we see when students are here on campus,” Hoffman commented.

However, despite the comparatively low attendance that Hoffman cited, students and even faculty appreciate the time together. 

“It is great to see students connecting with each other and being creative and silly. Prizes so far have been a mix of gift cards, fun gadgets and electronics, as well as custom sports shoes,” said Chair of the World Languages Department Yassine Benzinane, the organizer of Jackbox Games, one of the weekend activities. 

Adam Benzinane ’21 said, “I’ve done​ BINGO a couple of times and also helped run Jackbox competitions. It’s nice to interact with other classmates and there is also a competitive spirit. It’s swag.” 

As Hill’s virtual time wraps up with the impending return to campus and in-person student activities, the effort put into maintaining student life remains evident.