A freshman and a senior won $1,000 last Thursday evening in the DUPB-sponsored “Dream Dorm Do-Over.”
Winners were freshman Christian Dai and senior Alexandria Adamchak. They will spend the winnings on refurbishing their rooms. The hour-long program was led by Claire Berger, who is the host of Fantasy Open House on HGTV. She travels around the country helping college students improve their rooms.
“Winning a prize worth $1,000 was like unbelievably winning Power Ball, because I bought tickets several weeks ago for the $250 million jackpot,” said Dai. She didn’t win Power Ball but is happy enough, adding, “I [have] never won something like this in my entire life.”
Berger filled her hour-long presentation with pictures and video clips, prizes and bits of advice that could potentially improve every college living space. Most of her ideas were inexpensive. They included simple things like keeping desk space clean and having organized shoes and periodicals. She also said it’s important to personalize dorm space and to not live in a “pigsty.”
Those who arrived early at the presentation received backpacks or T-shirts if they sat in the first three rows. Pricegrabber.com sponsored these door prizes. Also, Berger drew raffle tickets throughout her presentation. Students with winning numbers received prizes intended to help improve their dorms. These included a sheet set, iPod speakers and a shoe organizer.
The program was organized by Brittany Wiser, the arts and entertainment co-director for DUPB. The idea came from a conference she attended in Little Rock during the fall quarter.
Wiser thought the event went well. “We had a great turnout from both on and off campus undergraduate students. I was very happy with the response,” said Wiser.
After the program, Berger spent the evening looking at the two winners’ rooms and making lists of what they wanted for their room as well as what they needed. She requires that winners make their rooms available to her for up to two days following the program. Also, both winners’ roommates had to consent to allow Berger into their rooms.
Finally, Berger wanted both winners’ rooms to be clean before she started to work with them on Friday.
Adamchak, who lives off campus, and Dai, who lives in Johnson-McFarlane Hall, both got a variety of room improvements with their prize money. Adamchak received a flat-screen television, new bedding and adjustable curtains, all transportable so that when she graduates in June all her things will be able to move with her. Dai also received new bedding as well as picture frames, a digital camera, a lamp and a printer.
The morning after Berger finished her room, Adamchak said, “After just waking up from my first night in my ‘new room,’ I felt like I spent the night in a hotel, a nice one, which means it was really comfortable.”
