University of Richmond students gain skills and foster community through SpiderBoard
STUDENT EXPERIENCE
Go behind the scenes of last week’s Frostival, one of the student organization’s signature events.
Sophomore Eve Snyder had watched the weather predictions all week. As the forecast settled in with a 90 percent chance of rain, she and her SpiderBoard committee decided to move the event up by a day.
The decision meant quickly adjusting logistics and spreading the word, all while continuing to prepare for one of the University of Richmond’s larger student events.
“The weather is great today,” said Snyder last Wednesday, as she and other SpiderBoard members taped down plastic tablecloths and hauled cases of bottled water to destinations around Westhampton Green. Under an inflatable igloo, boxes of 500 plushies waited to be opened and stuffed by students later in the evening.
Although this is her first year on SpiderBoard, Snyder served as the leader for Frostival, one of several annual events produced by the 25-member, student-run organization. SpiderBoard is based within the Center for Student Involvement and receives funding through them. SpiderBoard is responsible for student programming, giving students hands-on experience in event management, budgeting, marketing, and leadership.
“I like to give the students as much autonomy as possible,” said Taylor Hoogsteden, assistant director for Student Involvement and 2020 alum, who supervises the group. “They are really creative and are showcasing skillsets that will serve them so well after graduation.”
Learning by leading
SpiderBoard members propose event ideas and manage their execution — from vendor negotiations and purchasing to décor, marketing, and day-of-logistics. They work with vendors from across the country and ensure events stay within budget and university policies.
Senior Nancy Barraza, vice president of SpiderBoard and a business administration major with a concentration in finance, oversees the organization's overall budget and allocates funds across events. This academic year, SpiderBoard is hosting 25 events. Frostival featured hot chocolate, a donut truck, artificial snow, and fun inflatables such as a gingerbread house maze, miniature golf, and axe-throwing — with a blow-up version of the tool. Campus radio station WDCE played music throughout the evening.
More than 200 students checked in for raffle tickets, and many others stopped by to enjoy the activities.
“The snow globe bouncy house, the mini golf, and the photo booth were all very popular among our attendees,” Snyder said. “The hot chocolate station was running out by the end of the event.”
Snyder enjoyed unpacking the velvety yetis, huskies, and snow leopards she had ordered from a catalog in December. Students stuffed the plush animals themselves and carried them home at the end of the night. “Overall, it was a great success, and I think everyone who came had a wonderful time.”
Building connections across campus
Frostival is one of several large-scale events SpiderBoard organizes each year. Others include:
- Valentine’s Day Self-Care Night, a celebration centered on health and well-being, with bouquets, mocktails, and a chocolate fountain.
- Last Day of Classes Concert, held by Westhampton Lake, has featured national artists such as Plain White T’s and Crash Adams.
- Last Day of Summer Celebration, held the day before fall classes begin, features food trucks, inflatables, and giveaways
Each month, SpiderBoard also holds smaller Spider Nights proposed by the board’s members. Recent events have included movies under the stars, arts and crafts, trivia, astrology readings, drag night, grocery bingo, and a mobile rage room before finals.
According to Hoogsteden, the impact goes beyond entertainment. “The events give the students an opportunity to relax,” she said. “They also help develop a sense of community.”
For SpiderBoard president Deisy Gonzalez Ortiz, a philosophy, politics, economics, and law major, that sense of belonging is personal.
“Coming to the university, I didn't really find a lot of people that I would call friends in the early stages,” she said. “SpiderBoard was a great opportunity not only to create events for students, but also to interact with different students from all over campus.”
Barraza counts the 2025 Last Day of Summer Celebration among her favorite memories. “You see everyone back from summer vacations, and you see groups of friends back together, including people who went abroad,” she said. “It feels really nice because you plan this event over the summer, and then you see it come to life.”