Annual Fund Raiser at LSC Nets Record Amount

SPRING DIP: Wet, Wacky Plunge for Pledges

May 2, 2012

This is one Spring Dip that requires neither refrigeration nor veggies. Only shoes are mandatory.

Lyndon State College’s 6th Annual Spring Dip was held May 2nd. The event, sponsored by the Faculty/Staff Scholarship Committee, is billed as “good clean fun…for a good cause.” The money raised is used exclusively for LSC student scholarships. This year $1,859 was pledged, a record amount.

Faculty, staff, and students solicit pledges from other members of the college community to sponsor their icy plunge into Library Pond. Dippers are encouraged to don costumes and have dressed as nuns, scuba divers, pirates, go-go dancers, and Bob the Builder.

The Dip is traditionally held the first week in May. The calendar says springtime, but the pond water temperature is decidedly winter-like. Pre-plunge estimates placed this year’s pond temperature in the low 40s. A $10 minimum pledge allows for plenty of partakers but not everyone is willing to brave the cold. This year saw a record 28 participants sprint into the pond.

The Dip stems from an idea from Hannah Manley, director of alumni relations and development. As an annual participant, she is very familiar with the pond water: “It’s cold and it’s dirty. It’s also refreshing.”

Manley adds, “It’s a great tradition and a terrific way to break pre-finals tension. We plungers are the toughest people on campus. We put on quite a show for those who only watch. And we consider [the watchers] cowardly.”

The Dip’s proceeds are added to the money raised throughout the year by the Scholarship Committee. Last year, five students were awarded $500 each. This year, the committee added a $200 scholarship to the top fund raising student. Amanda Bernard was the top student fund raiser; Thom Anderson of the Mountain Recreation Department was the top fund raiser among faculty and staff.