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����ԭ��’s Eclipse Planning Committee received the 2024 Outstanding Collaborative Unit Award for its efforts to organize a festive day to experience and celebrate the April 8 total solar eclipse on the Dayton Campus.

The committee ensured that ����ԭ�� community members had plenty of opportunities to engage with one another and in the historic cosmic event.

The committee was co-chaired by Eric Corbitt, interim dean of students, and Ayşe Şahin, dean of the College of Science and Mathematics. It also included representatives of the Division of Student Affairs, the College of Science and Mathematics, the Astronomical Collaboration Club, the Office of Marketing and the Office of the Provost.

“During my time at ����ԭ��, I have not experienced a day on campus that exudes such a strong sense of community,” Nicolyn Woodcock, Ph.D., assistant director of the Asian and Native American Center.

����ԭ�� and the Dayton region were just inside the path of totality during the eclipse and experienced close to four minutes of total darkness.

It was an afternoon of leisure enjoyment and community connection. As totality approached the North Lawn was filled with students, faculty, staff, alumni and local residents, many of whom spread out on blankets.

“Anticipation was palpable, and it was lovely to see the usual business of the day take pause for students, staff, faculty and members of their families to come outside and enjoy the day,” said Woodcock, who nominated the Eclipse Planning Committee for the Outstanding Collaborative Unit Award.

The day’s varied activities included themed snacks like Sun Chips, Moon Pies and Starry soda; the fun run; education presentations by the Department of Physics; telescope demonstrations by the Astronomical Collaboration Club; and music by WWSU 106.9.