Volume 59, Issue 12  - November 6, 2006

A spook-tac-ular good time
By Michell Godinez
Staff Writer

Elizabeth A. Perez/Collegian

A student is disguised to scare all who enter the Haunted House.

It was like a scene from a movie as characters from Jack Sparrow to Strawberry Shortcake turned out for the fourth annual Halloween Extravaganza held Oct. 28 on the Student Union Lawn.

More than 4,000 UTB/TSC students and members of the community attended the event, which had a costume contest, live entertainment, a haunted house and food and game booths.

One of the night’s highlights was the costume contests, which had categories for children and adults.

Several children participated in the contest and the judges narrowed it down to five finalists, which the audience had to choose from. First place went to Michael Duenes, who was dressed up a scarecrow; second place went to Ricky Salinas, who was a Texas Longhorn football player; and in third place was Elise Hernandez, who dressed up as a leopard.

Elizabeth A. Perez/Collegian

The Student Union's game room served as a creepy Haunted House.

In the adult category the top prize went to Christopher Pedraza, who came as Leatherface from the movie “The Texas Chainsaw Massacre,” butcher knife and chainsaw in hand. Second place went to junior management major Dean Gutierrez, who was an evil scarecrow, and third place went to Karen Bartnicki, a sophomore science education major, dressed as Cinderella.  First place received $75, second place $50 and third place $25.

Young children looking to fill their trick-or-treat bags with goodies could take a hayride to the Village at Fort Brown, where they had the chance to choose from going through a scary or not scary hallway to get candy. 

Sandra Garcia and 6-year-old Matthew Garcia, who was dressed as King Arthur, were two of the many people waiting in line to go on the hayride.

“I like it when you play games and you get prizes,” Matthew replied when asked what his favorite part of the night was.

For those guests looking to have a good scream, there was a haunted house, which was rated G from 6 to 8 p.m. Afterward, it

graciela salazar/collegian

Sophomore Andres Cabrera prepares hot dogs at the Scorpiontation Leader Association’s food booth.

 was aimed at adults who were brave enough to enter.

Inside the house were several frightful characters, including a person

 being tortured on a medical table and two ghosts that reached out to grab your leg as you were getting ready to exit the house. Several screams were heard from those who entered.

Graduate students Nati Betancourt and Rick Leal were attending Halloween Extravaganza for the first time and were dressed as Little Red Riding Hood and the Big Bad Wolf.
 

Elizabeth A. Perez/Collegian

Trick-or-treaters take a hayride to the Village at Fort Brown, where costumed students gave them candy.

“It’s pretty cool, some people were really dressed up and into it,” Leal said.

“I liked it when the kids were dancing on the stage,” Betancourt said.

“I think the music makes it fun and the little events … the pie throwing and all that kind of stuff,” Leal said.

Asked if they would consider returning to the event next year, Betancourt replied, “yes, definitely.”

 

Elizabeth A. Perez/Collegian PHOTOS
Christopher Pedraza transformed himself into Leatherface to win first place in the costume contest.	Junior business major Dean Gutierrez, dressed as a scarecrow, won second place in the adult division of Halloween costume contest.	Sophomore science education major Karen Bartnicki won third place as Cinderella in the costume contest.