Banana Day Will be a Bunch of Banana Fun at West Chester University on April 20!
Pre-Final Stress Buster Is a WCU Tradition
West Chester University students will go completely bananas on Banana Day --- an annual
rite of spring that acts as a pre-final stress buster for all Golden Rams and, at
the same time, a zany salute to the nutritious fruit. On April 20, 11 a.m. – 3 p.m., Banana Day will happen all over campus with even some
sightings of students in banana costumes. The best banana fun will happen at 12 p.m. as students move through the Academic Quad (located between University Avenue and West Rosedale Avenue) to compete in a traditional Banana Toss, Banana Pie Eating Contest, Peel the Banana
with Chopsticks game, Banana Blast, Banana Cornhole, and more. Lots of banana fun
will also be doled out in Sykes Student Union (located at 110 W. Rosedale Avenue) with musical chair banana games played every 15 minutes, a golden banana scavenger
hunt, banana photo booth, caricaturists, and a bunch more. WCU’s campus is bound by
700 South High Street, Sharpless Street, South New Street, and West Rosedale Avenue (see link to campus map here: https://www.wcupa.edu/campusMap/).
Organized by the University’s Student Activities Council each year, 30 cases of bananas will be used during the 26th annual Banana Day! Why does everyone at WCU go absolutely bananas over Banana Day each year? It’s all about the t-shirt… The Banana Day t-shirt is a top-secret design-in-the-making every year. As a very limited edition, the specially-designed t-shirt is coveted and given only to the winners of banana games — until they last.
Virtual spaces will even go bananas as students use social media platforms to compete in Bingo Banana Board, Banana Day Word Search, and so much more. Banana Day will be shared all over the world via Instagram @wcusac, Facebook @wcustudentactivities, and Snapchat SACWCUPA.
With all the banana fun, Banana Day goers will be sure to receive nutritious sustenance.
One of this year’s Banana Day partners is Banana Loca, a new kitchen gadget invention that straightens, cores and fills a banana with tasty
food pairings. They recently secured a deal on Shark Tank with celebrities Mark Cuban
and Kevin O'Leary! Inventors Bechara Jaoudeh and Renee Heath will be on hand to create
delicious treats for students, lead the TikTok #BananaLocaChallenge, and give away
products while supplies last. WCU’s favorite Golden Ram, Rammy, will even make a new
friend with playdate Loca, the mascot for Banana Loca.
Aramark, a leader in the customer service business across food, facilities and uniforms, will also enhance the banana food-fest atmosphere by donating banana splits, banana desserts, and fried bananas with pineapple salsa. In addition, The Chilly Banana will provide 500 frozen mini-whip bananas with caramel and chocolate toppings!
A great stress-reducer for West Chester University students prior to final semester exams, Banana Day was founded in 1996 by WCU alumnus Rodolfo “Rudy” Tellez, who organized the distribution of thousands of bananas across campus to celebrate West Chester University spirit.
“We are so excited to bring in-person Banana Day back to campus after two years of virtual banana fun,” says Fanny Ortiz, vice president of traditions on the University’s Student Activities Council. “Banana Day at West Chester University is absolutely golden. It’s a great way to bring students together to laugh, have fun, build community, and just relax before finals. It’s more than just a day, it’s 26 years of a campus tradition that makes us one of the best universities around!”
