This editorial represents the opinion of The Bona Venture staff
The St. Bonaventure University community has been through a whirlwind journey during this year’s basketball season, physically and emotionally.
Bonaventure students got to make the most of this time with the help of the university’s alumni community. Both the men’s and women’s basketball teams made the NCAA Tournament, and students had the opportunity to travel down to Atlantic City, N.J., Nashville, Tenn. and Raleigh, N.C. to show off their Bona pride.
Buses took students to cheer on the teams, which would not have been possible without the aid of Bonaventure’s wonderful alumni.
Stephen Kuchera, director for the Center of Activities, Recreation and Leadership/Richter Center, said, “There were over 30 alumni and local supporters that donated money to provide the student buses, hotels, etcetera to Atlantic City, Nashville and Raleigh.”
Students were very grateful and definitely utilized this opportunity.
For a reasonable price, students were offered a bus ride down, a ticket to the game and a place to stay. Students really took advantage of this hopefully not-once-in-a- lifetime opportunity.
“We sold out all the buses we were offering for all our trips.” said Kuchera.
Even those who did not make the trek down South to support the teams had plenty of opportunities to cheer for the Bonnies right on campus.
Crowds gathered in the Rathskellar for viewing parties to enjoy the game and some free chicken wings. Students were also invited to Dresser Auditorium to watch the men’s team play in Nashville on a large projector screen. Events like these helped the school bond over its mutual admiration for the Bonnies.
It is wonderful everybody got to experience the excitement that came with our teams’ success, not just those who were fortunate to be in the same state as the players.
The current Bona’s students were not the only ones to show off their Bona pride. Before the women’s game in Raleigh, alumni gathered at the Backyard Bistro for an event coordinated by the Alumni Office. This shows you are never too old to show your school spirit.
All St. Bonaventure students should be grateful for all the alumni did to help celebrate the basketball teams’ amazing accomplishments. We are also pleased the alumni were part of these celebrations. Just because their time on the Bonaventure campus has passed doesn’t mean they were any less excited about the teams’ success.
Once a Bonnie, always a Bonnie.
