During the 2011-2012 school year, the department of Residential Life was looking into a new program that could be used as an annual event. Nothing had been planned in the month of February and the department wanted something different. Ashley Shopbell, along with several Peer Advisors, formed a committee to develop a new event for the month of February. They came up with an idea to do a Price is Right style program. Changing the name to the “Cost is Correct” to provide their own spin. Prizes were offered and students could win a large prize at the end in the showcase showdown with other smaller prizes (including the items students could guess on in the games) being raffled off. During the summer of 2012, it was decided to move the game to be our September program to give students a chance to win prizes for their apartments and residence hall rooms.

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Similar to the Price is Right, students were able to compete for prizes. In order to win the prizes, students needed to put win games where they had to see if they had the right price. There were 8 different games for students to win raffle tickets including Give or Keep where the contestant (student) is shown two small prizes and is asked to keep one, and give the other object away. The objective is to keep the higher priced item. If the total value of the prizes that the contestant kept is higher than the value of those that the contestant gave away, they win. Another example would be More or Less where a contestant starts with a prize. They have to guess if the price that is given to them is higher or lower than the actual price. If they get that right, they get a chance to do it again. There are three rounds. The prize on each game was a number of raffle tickets. The raffle tickets were then used to enter into prizes or for food. Two students were selected to participate in the showcase showdown to compete for an iPad. The person with the closest guess won the iPad. Other students put their raffle tickets into prize bins to win other household items and groceries.

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The goals of the program were to provide students with an enjoyable break from classes as well as educate them on understanding product prices while shopping. The program also sought to bring students together so they could meet other students during the first month of the fall semester. The goal of the program’s prizes were to help students with their new apartments or residence hall rooms and win some tools or food to have there.

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The students really love the program. It was done in the spring semester and it was loved by so many students that it was changed to an annual event and held in the fall. It was moved to the fall because it would be a better way for students to meet others and win prizes for their new spaces on campus.

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The program was a huge success. Students were able to walk away with food, groceries and/or prizes from the event. When speaking to the 234 attendees of the event, they had a great time at the event. One thing that would need to be done in the future is to change to new venue. With the large turnout, the event needs to move to a space that can provide as the clubhouse where it was held was not a good location. One great idea was the system of requiring students to “work for their food.” It got students into playing the games and wanting to stay longer as opposed to the normal, grab and go of a good percentage of students on campus.

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This program could easily be adapted on other campuses. All of the game boards were hand made using poster board and trifolds. Depending on the size of the program or the school, an organization or staff member can determine how big they want the event to be. One way to adapt is to work with local companies services or on campus departments (like bookstores) to ask about them donating items for the prizes or price comparison. It can also be worked in conjunction with a food drive. Organizations can have a food drive before the event and use those items collected as items for students to guess the costs. The food items can then be donated to a local charity and the staff or organization putting on the event can use their budget for food to feed students a snack or put towards prizes for their apartments/rooms.

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