The Mount Vernon-Lisbon Community Development Group (CDG) is working with Cornell’s Student Success Center to welcome Cornell’s new students to Uptown on Thursday, Sept. 7, from 4 to 6 p.m.
The new student event, formerly known as Viva Mount Vernon, is an opportunity for new students to get to know Mount Vernon’s Uptown shopping district through a quick two-hour tour that includes maps, giveaways and a chance to win Community Cash gift certificates and other assorted prizes.
Cornell’s new students will be encouraged to start their two-hour tour of Uptown at the lawn of the First Street Community Center (FSCC), 221 First St. NE, where two tables will be set up: one managed by CDG will have information about the community as well as Visitor Guides; the other table will be managed by representatives of Cornell’s Student Success Center with purple maps directing students to the various businesses.
At the CDG table, students will find local information as well as a fishbowl. Students who wish to participate will need to fill out a temporary signup card with a name and a cell phone number. CDG representatives will pick names throughout the two-hour event and call and/or text the student listed on the temporary signup card. If that student can get back to the fishbowl in 10 minutes after receiving the phone call, they will win a $25 Community Cash gift certificate good for any business in Mount Vernon or Lisbon.
Working with CDG will be representatives of Cornell’s Student Success Center, who will be coordinating specialized purple maps of Uptown. Students who are able to get 20+ stamps from the various businesses represented on the maps will have the opportunity to win assorted prizes.
“This is an opportunity for both students and merchants to get to know each other,” said Joe Jennison, director of Main Street and Marketing for the Mount Vernon-Lisbon Community Development Group (CDG). “We are all so thrilled that Cornell’s Student Success Center reached out to us for this event and are happy to help them encourage students to get to know our small business community.”