Students can play for charity

For those who want to relive their fall tailgating memories, the third annual Campus Cornhole Championships might be just the ticket.

The event is being held at 8 p.m. Saturday at Templeton Elementary at 1400 S. Brenda Lane.

The event will be in support of a notable cause, with all proceeds from the $30 registration fee benefitting Keep a Child Alive, co-founded by singer and activist Alicia Keys.

The event is sponsored by the IU Lutheran Campus Ministry, whose campus pastor is Kelli Skram.

“One reason we chose Keep a Child Alive was because of the pandemic of HIV/AIDS in Africa,” Skram said. “We wanted to use this event to raise awareness, as well as to make financial contributions to the cause.”

Other sponsors for the event include student associations such as Alpha Gamma Delta, Muslim Student Union, students in the Kelley School of Business, Phi Sigma Kappa, Lambda Chi Alpha and Alpha Sigma Phi.

“Most of the overhead is being covered by individuals,” senior Sarah Williams, the event coordinator, said. “So we can give all proceeds to the charity.”

The organizers are looking to increase the number of participants from past years.
“We had maybe 60 or so last year, including volunteers,” Williams said. “But this year we are hoping to get at least 100 people.”

Registration is still open, and those wishing to register the day of the event can do so at 7 p.m. Saturday. The event will feature free food, music and prizes for the winners.

The Lutheran Campus Ministry decided on cornhole three years ago when creating the event. Cornhole seemed to be a logical choice for the event, Skram said.

“It requires a relatively low level of skill,” she said. “Almost anyone can play.”

Grad student Doug Doblar, the head referee for the event, has been with the tournament since its inception.

“Being from Georgia, I had never heard of cornhole until I came to IU,” Doblar said. “But I think it is a great event. It’s a great combination of a good cause and something fun for everyone to do.”