Seniors celebrate their day with special prizes

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Congratulating Vanessa Garaio on winning the Pontiac Sunfire are John Robovitsky (left) and Gary Monroe of NuCar Pontiac Buick GMC of Newark.

1:36 p.m., May 14, 2004--Senior Vanessa Garaio won a brand-new, blue and gold Pontiac Sunfire in the Senior Day drawing May 14 on The Green.

“I’ve never won anything,” Garaio said as she received congratulatory hugs from dozens of friends. “I can’t believe this!”

Garaio, who currently drives a 2001 Honda Civic, said she would either give the new car to her father or trade it in for cash to support her religious mission to Colombia.

A Spanish major from Parsippany, N.J., she was congratulated on her win by John Robovitsky and Gary Monroe of NuCar Pontiac Buick GMC of Newark.

Adam Twersky from Philadelphia, who won a Dell DJ 15 Digital Jukebox Music Player in the draw, said it was his lucky day.

“I never win anything,” Twersky said. “I’ve wanted an iPod but couldn’t afford it.”

Nearly 1,000 seniors mingled from 3-6 p.m. and enjoyed food, beverages provided by Coca-Cola, giveaways and live music with Burnt Sienna. The celebration continued at the Stone Balloon on Main Street from 6-9 p.m.

Other seniors at the event said it was a great way to reconnect with classmates they haven’t seen in years.

“It brings good closure for everyone who has been here for four years,” Eric Chang from Newark, said. “It was good seeing all your friends that you’d lost touch with.”

Senior Day was sponsored by NUCAR, APS Wireless, Boscov’s, Happy Harry’s, Nextel and WSFS and presented by the Delaware Undergraduate Student Congress (DUSC).

Mike Corey, the voice of Blue Hen athletics on The River, was emcee of the event.

Vanessa Garaio checks out her new blue and gold Sunfire.

Senior Day prize-winners, in addition to Garaio and Twersky, include:

Joseph Cyril Deroba of Freehold, N.J.—$7,500 shopping spree at Boscov’s department store, courtesy of Boscov’s;

Lauren Dana Leff of Mount Laurel, N.J.—WSFS ATM withdrawal challenge, courtesy of WSFS Bank. At noon, Thursday, May 20, Leff will be given a MAC card and a PIN and be allowed three minutes to withdraw as much cash as possible in $250 increments;

Stacey Louise Watson of Newark—Specialized Hardrock XC bicycle, courtesy of Wooden Wheels, Delaware’s Bicycle Super Store;

Alisha Ruth Yallowitz of East Meadow, N.Y.—Two Amtrak tickets good for anywhere in the Northeast corridor, courtesy of University Travel;

Stephanie Faye Jolson—iPod mini digital music player and iTune gift card, courtesy of UD Information Technologies;

Elizabeth Grace Perry of Columbus, N.J.—Dell DJ 15 Digital Jukebox Music Player, courtesy of Dell and UD Information Technologies;

Alyson M. Araque of Hopewell Junction, N.Y.—Diploma frame and a $100 gift card to UD Bookstore, courtesy of the UD Bookstore;

Julia Ann Rado of Bear—Two season tickets for Fightin’ Blue Hen Football, courtesy of UD’s Intercollegiate Athletics Program; and

Lauren Antonelli of Massapequa Park, N.Y.—Pizza party for 10, courtesy of UD Dining Services.

Photos by Kevin Quinlan

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