It was all smiles and a little friendly competition at last Friday’s Easter egg hunt hosted by the Payne Center.
More than 300 eggs were scattered across the Payne Center lawn as students at the University of Southern Mississippi participated in the annual Easter egg hunt. Inside the eggs were numbers that students could redeem for prizes, including gift cards, Southern Miss gear and free movie popcorn tickets.
USM student Allie Dubuisson said the event can become competitive quickly.
“The egg hunt every year is pretty competitive. It starts at 12, and it’s 12:01 now, and most of the eggs are probably already found. We get out here pretty early,” Dubuisson said.
Students approached the hunt in different ways. Some came up with a plan, carefully searching the lawn for eggs, while others, like USM student Cori Kelly, relied on speed.
“I’m just running for it,” Kelly said.
As soon as the hunt began, students moved quickly across the lawn, collecting as many eggs as they could in a short amount of time. While the initial excitement was about finding eggs, the real anticipation came from discovering what numbers were inside and what prizes they could redeem.
Dubuisson said she had specific prizes in mind this year. “Last year I got a shirt, but this year I’m hoping to get a gift card or hopefully pizza,” she said.
The Easter Egg Hunt is one of several events hosted at the Payne Center each year, designed to provide students with opportunities to take a break from classes and enjoy time on campus. Organizers said the event draws a wide variety of students and gives them a chance to socialize, compete, and participate in campus life outside of academics.
Students who participated said the event was fun regardless of whether they walked away with a prize, and many said they enjoy the excitement and energy it brings to campus.
The Payne Center has more events planned for the spring semester, including the 5K Glow Run on April 9 at 8 p.m. Events like this aim to provide students with additional opportunities to be active and engaged on campus while building a sense of community.
