SRSC entertains more than 400 at annual Casino Night

Casino Night held in the ballroom at the Sam Rayburn Center April 19 hit the jackpot with students and staff.

"Casino night is one of our biggest events," senior Sarah Cunningham said. "Campus Recreation and CAB [Campus Activities Board] co-host this event and we put this event on for students, faculty, staff members, and community members to come out and play some games and have some fun."

The event featured finger foods and family-friendly entertainment in the form of a comedian who specializes in entertaining on college campuses.

"They thought it would be fun to give some of the students who maybe didn't want to gamble all the time some entertainment and the chance to have fun," comedian Adam Ace said. "The best part is that most colleges get like 50-100 students to an event, so to have 400 students to one event is pretty incredible. They should be really happy and proud."

The final attendance record showed 420 students, faculty, staff and town residents showed up for their chance at prizes, which ranged from a 43" Samsung TV down to laundry baskets filled with supplies to help homesick college students.

"I think it's a good event to put on because students really come out and have fun," senior President of the Campus Activities Board LaQuarius Loudermilk said. "They get to come see the comedian and play games and win prizes such as TVs and have a lot of fun. I think it's a good thing that they brought a comedian. Every year it gets bigger and bigger, and students come out more and enjoy themselves a lot. Commerce has the reputation that there is nothing to do, but there is; you just have to come out and do them. "

With the semester coming to a close and finals just weeks away, the event seemed to be a place where students forgot about the stresses of classes and had fun.

"Its pretty cool, I haven't played yet but I like the scenery of it," freshmen Kadetria Shea said. "It's entertaining, it's something to do on campus."

Though the night focused on adults, it was no shock to see people holding a baby in one hand and cards in the other. The big winners of the night were actually a married couple, Tramaine and Traicy Williams, who respectively walked away with a new TV and iPod touch.

 "The first thing I'm going to do with it is to go home and play Call of Duty on it," Mr. Williams said. "I enjoyed myself a lot and had fun with my friends."