CAB hosted their annual homecoming pizza tasting event on Wednesday and “Pizza Taste” was a tremendous success.
“It’s a successful event every year and brings local restaurants to students for free.
We bring it back every year because students enjoy it,” CAB director Hannah Horn said.
Doors opened at Hansen at 6 p.m. but the line began piling up long before and the event’s total student attendance ended up capping at over 300 attendees.
While the line was long, attendees agreed the pizza was worth it.
“We partner with ORL to bring as many students as possible to the event,” Horn said.
Several pizza businesses with locations in the Bloomington-Normal area were in attendance.
From local pizza restaurants to bigger pizza chains, all groups brought their pizza A- game.
However, pizza wasn’t the only option available— Flinger’s was handing out a food item that could best be described as a mashup of a cheesy breadstick and a tiny hot pocket all in one.
DP Dough also had a variation on pizza with their “Roni Zoni’s,” which is a pizza inspired calzone classic from the chain.
Two local Pizza giants, Monicals and Firehouse, were offering gluten free options in an attempt to reach a wider consumer base.
“Pizza is my religion,” one pizza-goer, freshman Caitlyn Smith said.
Obviously, the pizza tasting is a unifying event as this feeling seemed to be shared by all in attendance.
While students ate and compared pizzas, directors of Student Involvement Kevin Carey and Marjorie Miller the Hansen Student Center Stage and announced the 2019 Homecoming Court to great excitement by all gathered pizza lovers.
The two directors announced seniors Melissa Holzer, Sydni McStravick, Nykia Rutledge, Jessica Sheelam and Lauren Yep as candidates for queen and Daniel Drake, Thomas Hillebrand, Erick Johnston, Jack McKermitt and Ian O’Toole as candidates for king.
The decision to announce the court at the event was a smart one as the energy in the room was jovial and care-free as gathered students celebrated their love of pizza, Homecoming, and not having to eat at SAGA.
Tobin’s was crowned the three-time winner after votes were counted.
“I think the Pizza Taste went great and all the students loved the pizza.
It’s always a great event to bring our students together,” Junaid Ali, CAB’s campus outreach chair said.
PHOTO CREDIT: KELSEY RIESENBERG