he 13th annual Can Structure Contest was held Nov. 10 to 14 in the Memorial Student Union Building. This annual contest was started by Director of Student Health and Wellness Jo Elda Alaniz and is sponsored by PEP Talk and Student Health and Wellness with a goal to gather cans to donate to the Javelina CARE Pantry. The goal is to not only donate the cans but to spread awareness of and eliminate hunger.
Organizations such as the Kinesiology Club and the Engineering Student Organizations and Pre-Vet Tech participate nearly annually. Any organization can join the contest and each club creates a theme for their structure.
In previous years interesting structures were created such as Mario peeking out of a green pipe, a crayon box, the Pokemon Diglett, a calculator, a military war tank, a toothbrush and many others. Other than cans, another non-perishable food used is Ramen noodles packets.
“This is my third year [with Student Health and Wellness]. I started PEP Talk in the spring of 2017 and I did my first can structure event in the fall of 2017,” Alexander Solis said.
Can structures reflect the creativity and values of an organization.
“Our major is about exercising and fitness so we thought it would be right to make a dumb bell,” said Jessica Hinojosa, a Kinesiology major.
This event shines creativity while being able to help other Javelinas.
“I have been doing this event for the past four years. It brings out our creative side and helps us all work together,” Cassandra Tijerian,Kinesiology major, said.
Some of the themes from previous years and this year are creative puns against hunger. From this year a can structure of a pencil with a sheet of paper with the words “Erase Hunger” made an appearance, along with a dog house with a sign that says “We have a bone to pick with hunger!” Another structure of a turtle however related to the climate issues and sea life.
Each judge looks for four qualities in each structure: creativity, originality, most cans used and how the structure was built.
Winners were announced Nov. 12 with first place prize at $300, second place at $200 and third place at $100.
Because of the Can Structure Event and the help of donations from different organizations, the Javelina CARE Pantry will be receiving more food for students in need.