Ninth Annual IUPUI Regatta Sets Sail This Saturday

September 22, 2017 Brent Herman

“Community, excitement, competition.” These are the words chosen by IUPUI senior Nick Delgado when asked to describe his experience at a previous IUPUI Regatta. Nick is a health and information management major who had nothing but good things to say about the event.

This year’s Regatta staff is hoping to create similar memories as they prepare for the ninth installment of what has become known as the Alumni Association’s signature event and the largest on-campus event of the year.

Goley is a senior at IUPUI majoring in HR marketing and management and despite this being a very busy week for him, he was kind enough to sit down with me and discuss the past, present, and future of the IUPUI Regatta.

Goley has been involved with the Regatta since his freshman year when he participated in the Battleships contest in the Natatorium. His sophomore year, he rowed in the Regatta for one of the Kelley School of Business teams where he “really fell in love with the event and really wanted to get involved.” From there, he joined the committee and was ultimately named executive director of this year’s Regatta.

“I really like the involvement and the impact that I can make on campus,” Goley said.

The organization of the 2017 IUPUI Regatta is different from previous years. In prior years, the event was ran by SOAR (Student Organization for Alumni Relations), but this year, the newly registered Steering Committee has taken the helm.

“There are a lot of different things that go into the Regatta,” Evan informed me. With 150 teams competing in the half-mile canoe relay race, as well as a slew of other contests and various forms of entertainment planned by the committee, this seems like a modest understatement.

The teams that compete are as diverse as they are numerous including teams representing educational departments and student organizations, as well as unaffiliated groups of friends who simply want in on the fun.

The IUPUI Regatta is not only a day of celebration and fellowship for the IUPUI community. It is a scholarship fundraiser. When the event started in 2009, the Alumni Association began accruing funding for a scholarship program that began paying out in 2015 in the form of 10 $1,000 scholarships each year. IUPUI students who have completed at least 26 credit hours while maintaining a 3.0 GPA and have exhibited leadership skills are eligible for the scholarship.

“We’re looking at giving away more next year, for the 10th year,” Evan explained. “We have put a little bit more of an emphasis on fundraising this year so we’re able to pad the bank a little bit, so we can hopefully give away five more [scholarships] next year.”

This year’s event hopes to improve on the community outreach aspect of the event as well, partnering with the IUPUI Office of Undergraduate Admissions and inviting about 500 high school students to the Regatta as a college visit. They hope this festive display of student involvement will showcase the highlights of our university and encourage these students to consider IUPUI when it comes time for them to select a higher education institution.

The executive director urges students to attend this one event of the year that brings all of the different departments and organizations of our school together. When I asked him why students should want to come to the Regatta, Evan responded,

“It’s a lot of fun. There is something for everybody. Even if you’re not rowing in the race, there’s all kinds of entertainment, there’s food trucks, you can go to just hang out with classmates. It’s just a fun day.”

A lot of time and planning has gone into this event, but what makes it special is student involvement. Everyone involved is hoping to share the experience with as many people as possible. If you are interested in attending the Ninth Annual IUPUI Regatta this Saturday September 22, the opening ceremonies commence at 10 a.m., at 337 W. 11th St. in downtown Indianapolis.