Brookdale Bingo held in the Robert Collins Arena on Nov. 16 brought out the competitive side of students as they went head to head to win an array of prizes that included Squishmallows, gift cards, popcorn and waffle makers, Brookdale apparel and so much more.
Every new round brought the sounds of students screaming and groaning in frustration, and others screaming “BINGO” as the arena filled with competition and laughter. The 6:30 p.m. program drew 173 Brookdale students, which was a record for the popular free Bingo program.
Upon entrance, students line up to help themselves to free pizza, Jersey Mikes subs, snacks, sodas and water. Each bingo night has a theme; because it is November, this theme was Thanksgiving. There was pumpkin and apple pie for students after their meals.
Student Life Director Lauren Brutsman, of Avon by the Sea, said she “started Brookdale Bingo in 2021 while the Covid-19 pandemic was at its peak. The kids had to social distance six feet and sit at a single table by themselves. The staff and board members would pass the food out to the attendees so we could maintain the protocol.”
Brutsman said her favorite part about hosting bingo is all the energy in the room, noting that students come to life and really have fun with the event. Brutsman said her least favorite part is trying to pick out prizes for the winners. However, she said Student Life Board students have been helping out with this task recently.
“I would absolutely recommend this event to people and my other friends because it’s a really good way to get involved and just have fun on a random Thursday night if you don’t have plans,” said Abbey Ford, a 19-year-old photography major from Eatontown, who got to call out the first “bingo” of the evening.
“The best part was obviously winning but also doing something new with my friends and just hanging out.
“This was my first time at Brookdale Bingo, and I won the thermal flask and Uno card set. I will definitely be back for the next one on Dec. 7,” Ford said.
Ava Mace, a 19-year-old from Howell said, “This was my first time at Bingo. I wanted to go last month, but I missed it so I made it a point to come this month. I found out through the Canvas app actually, I normally check the notifications from the SLA and thought it looked interesting. I had so much fun and would totally go again… I really want to yell out bingo.”
The basketball team walked in and began to play bingo as well. Brutsman took an intermission from bingo to ask the crowd a pop-quiz question, “What Brookdale sports team won the 2022 championship?” One student yelled out cross country and another called out soccer. A third student shouted, “basketball” and won the prize of a Taco Squishmallow. Groans came from every corner of the arena, and a student in the back of the room quietly stated that he was hoping to win that prize.
Many students expressed that they broke out of their shell as they competed against others and recommended the event to students who have not attended.
The next Brookdale Bingowill be 6:30 p.m. Dec. 7 in the Collins Arena. Students need to have a valid ID in order to win prizes.
