Thursday night the Class of 2021 gathered in Kyle Field Plaza for Fish Fest — an opportunity for them to do their wildcats together and meet fellow freshmen over a free box of Chick-Fil-A nuggets.
Class Councils hosted their Fish Fest, an annual tradition to celebrate the Class of 2021 completing their freshman year. The event had food, prizes and performances from the Little Wranglers, a DJ and Class of 2021 performers. The Aggie Yell Leaders attended for photo opportunities and to lead the Class of 2021 in a yell practice.
Ben Hanik, director of Fish Fest and business freshman, said event began in 2005 when the freshman class realized they didn’t have any traditions of their own, so Class Councils came together to create something special for the freshmen.
“Fish Fest is a tradition for the freshman class to commemorate the accomplishments of their first year in college,” Hanik said. “This event is centered around class unity. It’s a giant hoorah that helps keep that spirit of tradition alive.”
Thir years ago, Fish Fest was a small idea of unity and now it has become an event for coming together to reflect on the year and enjoy the time before summer.
Michael Osborn, Fish Fest logistics director and economics freshman, said that this is a great time for looking back on the year and all the memories the freshmen have made with their new friends while also looking forward to the upcoming year.
“This is a great time to look forward to becoming leaders on campus and taking on a bigger role of being a sophomore,” Osborn said. “Working behind the scenes [of Fish Fest] allows for me to put my whole heart into a tradition and to get a first-hand experience at shaping something that my class will appreciate.”
Osborn said that this event started off as a small idea but slowly it’s grown into a place where different people can come together.
“It’s good to recognize that we all became Aggies together, we became one unified yet diverse class by the end of our first year here [at Texas A&M],” Osborn said.
Not only is this event a way to come together, but it is a way that the class raises money. Hanik said this is the first time the Class of 2021 gets to begin fundraising for their class gift that will eventually be given back to the university.
“Knowing that what I am doing, planning traditions, it’s not about me,” Hanik said. “This is for the whole Class of 2021. I get to be a part of traditions.”
Carolina Lozoya, engineering freshman, said she heard about Fish Fest through her friends and the posters inside the dorm halls. She said she enjoyed the free food and great music.
“It’s a nice tradition for the freshmen because we are still new here and trying to figure ourselves out. It’s a nice little thing to do for us,” Lozoya said.
“Overall Fish Fest was a blast,” Hanik said. “It’s nice to take a break right before we start finals to just remember why we decided to come to Texas A&M and think about what it is we want to do with the rest of our three years here.”