Winning entries in UST’s first Celt CANstruction Competition earlier this year came from the Office of Admissions on the faculty/staff side and the Rising Stars organization on the student side.

UST Community Helps Hungry Students

Participating groups acted out of a shared aim to stock The Celt Pantry in the Veteran Success Center. The soon-be-opened pantry addresses the hidden obstacle of food scarcity, which sabotages student success at colleges and universities across the country.

Assistant Director of UST’s Veteran Success Center, Jay Hernandez, said the contest had a great turnout with eight displays and many donations. “Considering the sense of community that’s part of the ethos of University of St. Thomas, we knew that folks would get behind this fun competition to do some real good,” Hernandez said. “We challenged participating departments and teams with creating displays using non-perishable items. Picking winners was tough.”

Winning Displays

UST President Richard Ludwick had the difficult job of judging and did indeed select two winners. The Office of Admissions built a large structure reinforced with wooden boards and proudly broadcasting the University’s motto, “Crescamus in Christo.” Hernandez presented that trophy to Tish Hollamon, Christina Cao and Yesenia Williams.

Not to be outdone, the Rising Stars student organization, represented by the group’s manager Dan Garcia ’01, MBA ’09, and psychology student Tirranye Jones, used cans of green beans, pinto beans and tuna to replicate the Link Lee Mansion.

With almost 1,000 cans of non-perishable foods, The Celt Pantry plans to open very soon. In the meantime, a dropbox for ongoing donations is located at the UST Police Department.