Quick Hits 5/6
After a week-long break, the last Quick Hits of the semester is here! Last week was De-Stress week, and it was a blast for students with the “Ultimate Study Break” and a legendary punching machine score!
Read this edition of “Quick Hits” to learn about these events and everything else you need to know about what has happened and what is to come on Illinois Central College campuses.
30-Second Stories
Thursday, May 2: Ultimate Study Break
Last Thursday, the Minority Student Retention team hosted a mini-carnival at Campus Housing, with everything from an inflatable Velcro dartboard to cotton candy.
When walking onto the campus housing, students were directed to the inside of the building for free food. The meal was as American as it gets, with burgers, hot dogs, chips, Gatorade, water, and cookies.
Outside, however, there was a plethora of games, many of which were inflatable. Some examples include a massive Velcro dartboard where students kicked a Velcro soccer ball in an attempt to hit the bullseye.
Some of the other games include blowup archery and football targets.
There was even more food as well outside, although it was more carnival-themed. This included popcorn and cotton candy.
Hidden behind the carnival food was the prize booth. Upon a student winning a game, an attendant awarded them prizes, which could be redeemed at the booth.
“It was great to have some fun with my classmates at a stress-filled time this late in the semester,” says Eli Cook, who visited the Ultimate Study Break in between classes.
Free round-trip shuttle rides between the Peoria and East Peoria campuses were provided.
Monday, April 29- May 2: De-Stress Week
All week, the ICC Student Lounge on the East Peoria campus was packed with different activities to distract students from finals stress, including everything from free stuffed animals to a punching machine that created a local hero.
On Monday, there was a punching machine, massage chairs, and mental health journal writing. For food, there were free breakfast sandwiches.
One student got a rare near-perfect score on the punching machine. More information about this “One-Punch Man” is available in the 30-second story below.
On Tuesday, students could get henna tattoos, hair tinsel, and lip balm. For food, there was a taco bar.
On other parts of campus, there was also a Relax in the Stacks event with therapy dogs and Gentle Yoga.
On Wednesday, students decorated cookies, made bracelets and embroidery, and got homemade spa items. For food, there was a pasta bar. Another Relax in the Stacks was on Wednesday as well.
On Thursday, there was a $5 Stuff-a-Plush activity and a tie-dye station.
Monday, April 29: “One-Punch Man of ICC” Gets Near Perfect Score on Punching Machine During De-Stress Week
Last Monday in the East Peoria Student Lounge, after only one attempt, student Nathan Schlosser got a near-perfect score of 994 out of 1,000 on a punching machine.
The punching machine was there for the first day of De-Stress week, ICC’s semesterly event where fun attractions are brought to the Student Lounge. In addition to the punching machine, there were massage chairs and free food.
The average punching machine player scored about 500 out of 1000 points on their punch, and most impressive players got scores up to 700 or even 800. That is until about 11:50 a.m. when Schlosser blew every other score out of the water with his score.
After waiting in line, the one and only Nathan Schlosser made his first and only attempt on the machine. The score slowly climbed. “500, 700, 900…”. Everyone realized what was about to happen, staring at the ballooning number in disbelief.
Then it happened: “992, 993, 994”. The screen stopped. Screams of celebration were heard throughout the room. Some people even fell to their knees, yelling “No way!”
After accepting a few high fives, Schlosser walked away to his next class, acting like he hadn’t just become a local legend.
Schlosser is similar in many ways to the superhero Saitama in the popular anime One-Punch Man, who can defeat any adversary with only one punch. Both of them have demonstrated great power with one punch, and both have a nonchalant attitude about this ability.
In this way, Schlosser has become a sort of “One-Punch Man of ICC”.
While one might expect the new “superhero” to be an MMA champion, the only training Schlosser says he has had in his life was taking “karate for one year five years ago.”
This is nowhere close to a mastery of karate, as the average time to get a black belt is about five years of rigorous training.
One possible takeaway from Schlosser’s story is that ordinary people can achieve extraordinary achievements with just a little training or luck.
“Anyone can do anything,” he says.
Saturday, April 27: Fashion Club Spring Fashion Show
A few weeks ago in the Performing Arts Center Dance Studio, the Fashion Club put on a fashion show, and many of the outfits were made of recycled materials.
“It went pretty well,” says Clarice Gates, the president of the fashion club and show host. “There was a lot of team building and a community came together to put on a viable show.”
“I was the host, so I was busting my chops trying to be funny and everything,” says Gates.
“My favorite collection I did was a collection that I called “Boxing Queens”. It was only three pieces, but I just learned how to make shorts doing Rocky Horror, so I made some boxing shorts and a wrestling belt. It was cool,” says Gates.
Her favorite outfit overall, however, was Alana O’Hare’s water bottle dress, made completely out of bottles and caps.
“We had to take a little break in the middle because some of the outfits were pretty elaborate and made from a lot of recycled material,” says Leona. “So they were pretty interesting to put on. But other than that little mishap, I think it went pretty well. My mom liked it.”
Coming Soon to ICC
- Monday, May 6-10: Mental Health Awareness Month Activities
- When: All day
- Where: East Peoria Campus, Academic Building, Counseling Center, CC200 & Peoria Campus, Student Center, Counseling Center, S221
- More Information
- Monday, May 6-8: Horticulture Club Plant Sale
- When: 12-6 p.m.
- Where: East Peoria Campus, Horticulture Land Lab
- More Information
- Monday, May 6: Gentle Yoga
- When: 1:30-2:15 p.m.
- Where: East Peoria Campus, Academic Building, International Center, 304A
- More Information
- Monday, May 6: UNITE Club Weekly Meetings
- When: 2-3 p.m.
- Where: East Peoria Campus, Academic Building, 302A
- More Information
- Tuesday, May 7-8: ICC Vocal Jazz Auditions
- When: 2-6 p.m.
- More Information
- Tuesday, May 7: S.A.F.E. Club Weekly Meetings
- When: 3-4 p.m.
- Where: East Peoria Campus, Academic Building, 320A
- More Information
- Wednesday, May 8: Fashion Club
- When: 4-6 p.m.
- Where: East Peoria Campus, Academic Building, 131C
- More Information
- Thursday, May 9: Illinois State University Transfer Center Table Visit
- When: 9 a.m.- 4 p.m.
- Where: East Peoria Campus, Academic Building, Transfer Center
- More Information
- Thursday, May 9: Aurora University Transfer Center Table Visit
- When: 10 a.m.- 1 p.m.
- Where: East Peoria Campus, Academic Building, Atrium
- More Information
- Thursday, May 9: Fashion Club
- When: 11 a.m.- 1 p.m.
- Where: East Peoria Campus, Academic Building, 131C
- More Information
- Saturday, May 11: Commencement 2024
- When: 10 a.m.
- Where: Peoria Civic Center, Hall B
- More Information
- Sunday, May 12: Philharmonic Chorale Presents: A Festival of Song
- When: 2:30-4:30 p.m.
- Where: East Peoria Campus, Performing Arts Center
- More Information
- Buy Tickets
- Monday, May 13: CNA Job Fair
- When: 10 a.m.- 12 p.m.
- Where: Peoria Campus, Cedar Hall
- More Information
- Monday, May 13: Gentle Yoga
- When: 1:30 p.m.- 2:15 p.m.
- Where: East Peoria Campus, Academic Building, International Center, 304A
- More Information
In Case You Missed It
- May 2: The International Student Fair Is Back!: Recently, Illinois Central College celebrated its diverse student body with its International Student Fair. The celebration, which last took place in 2019 and was halted for a period of five years due to the Covid pandemic, was held at the Peoria campus’ Student Center.
- May 1: Student Entrepreneur Shares ICC Journey and Life Experiences: Every morning, Illinois Central College sophomore, Al Cuizon Jr., said he awakens at 4 a.m. to start his day of exercise, studies, student extracurricular activities, community commitments, and martial arts.
- April 29: Audience Got Rowdy at ICC’s Spring Musical The Rocky Horror Show: Earlier this month, the cast of an ICC musical performed to an audience that called them names, threw toilet paper on stage, and shot water guns at them — and it was all encouraged by the cast.
That’s it for Quick Hits this semester! See you in the fall, cougars!