First Trunk or Treat at ICC Brings Students and Families Together

Illinois Central College hosted its first-ever trunk-or-treat for the community and students this October, and had “a lot more people than we thought there would be originally” according to the organizer. 

Across the parking lot of the Peoria campus, crowds of children of ICC students dashed around cars decorated in cobwebs, security tape, and other Halloween paraphernalia. Nonparental students also visited the trunk-or-treat event to trick-or-treat as well, or chat with their fellow students and professors. The event was organized by Ciara Trimble-Roddy, a Benefits Navigator at ICC.

She said that she noticed there were a lot of student-parents at ICC and that they were not well-represented in events. So, she decided to throw a trunk-or-treat.

Trimble-Roddy also stated that this was not her first trunk-or-treat.

“In middle school we used to do it all the time,” she said. “It was pretty much the highlight of our year.”

One student participating in the event was Bailey Herrick, a freshman majoring in pre-sonography. She is a player on the softball team, and handed out candy with her softball coach, Heather Doty.

This was Herrick’s first time participating in a trunk-or-treat and said that her favorite part of the event was seeing kids in costumes.

“It’s just really nice to do something for the community”. Herrick added.

Another participant who enjoyed seeing the children was Kim Vietti, a professor who has been teaching biology at ICC for the past 18 years. 

“I’ve had students come out and bring their children. The kids are just bouncing around having a great time.” Vietti said, “It’s a nice, safe environment for them to do so and a lot of people don’t know the campus is here, so having them is great. A 2-year-old could grow up and come here one day.” 

Vietti also said it was clear the college strongly supported the event., “I think this is organized wonderfully, it’s fun to see Jon Neidy [Vice President of Student Success at ICC] here, to Amy Daxenbichler [Dean of Students at ICC], to Student Services, and Academic Affairs.

Kim Vietti’s entire family participated in handing out candy for the trunk-or-treat, including her husband Eric Vietti. Eric Vietti is part of an international organization based on the hit movie series “Star Wars”, the 501st Legion.

“They dress up in Star Wars costumes, and they do charity events,” Eric Vietti said, “And they do not collect any payment for themselves, it goes all toward charity.”

Eric Vietti added that the hardest part of the event for him was wearing his costume, due to a back injury. 

Most of the people at the event who handed out candy dressed up in a costume. Some even had their pets in costume.

Casey, a 220-pound mastiff was dressed in costume by his owner. He wore a red shirt and was Clifford, The Big Red Dog. His owner, Shari Semelroth, is a professor at ICC who teaches nursing. She has been a professor of ICC for seven years and said her favorite candy was a Zero Bar. 

Several others participated in the event including Lt. Nick Jackson from ICC’s police department, and several people from counseling services.

Amy Daxenbichler’s daughter, Natalie also helped give out candy with her mother and father. She is 7 years old and dressed up as Hei Hei from Moana. Her favorite candy is the Lindt Lindor chocolate bars. 

When asked about her favorite part of the event she said, “That I get to pass out candy and say ‘Happy Halloween!’”