Students at St. Bonaventure will soon have the opportunity to unwind and de-stress before finals during Reilly’s Retreat, a specially curated spa night hosted by the Event and Sponsorship Marketing 310 class.

The retreat event will take place Friday, Nov. 15, from 5 to 7 p.m. on the second floor of Plassmann Hall, where the class will transform the space into a peaceful oasis where students can take a break from their studies and embrace a bit of relaxation.

The idea for Reilly’s Retreat was born out of a collaboration between the class taught by Kristen Ryan and the Campus Activities Board (CAB), Jenna Keppel, and Rob DeFazio. The class was provided with funding from CAB and the primary concept of an event that could help their fellow Bonnies de-stress before finals. The marketing class then dove in to create teams to take charge of various aspects of the planning, advertising and budgeting process.

“We have learned to work together as a team. A job like this cannot be done by one person,” said Izabella Krecisz, a senior Marketing major and co-leader of the Logistics Team. “From selecting the menu to the activities, everything has been thoroughly planned to create a stress-free atmosphere.”

Reilly’s Retreat will be a celebration of well-being, featuring raffle prizes, yoga, and massage sessions (available on a first-come, first-served basis), plus a craft station where students can paint tote bags, create stress balls, and more. It will also feature catered food from Aramark and an outdoor fireplace with s’mores. The first 50 attendees will receive a free T-shirt, adding a touch of memorabilia to the experience.

The Sponsorships Team, led by co-leader Abigail Dykeman, a senior Strategic Communication major, has worked to secure partnerships with local businesses such as Hometown Bar and Grill, Holiday Valley, and Levitate Float Spa.

“Small businesses are very supportive and friendly,” Dykeman said, noting that even those unable to participate offered helpful feedback, which led the team to success with new sponsors.

Promotions Team co-leader junior Strategic Communication major Katie Squires focused on spreading awareness and building excitement for the event.

Traditional word of mouth is incredibly powerful on a close-knit campus like St. Bonaventure, she said. “Students love to support each other, so we’re expecting a great turnout.”

The class’s goal is to create an atmosphere of calm and encourage students to feel “relaxed and ready” as they tackle finals.

In addition to staff in Student Affairs and Aramark, the class met with university employees in the Events & Conferences and Marketing & Communications offices to learn about protocol and receive feedback on planning an event of this scale.

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About the University: The nation’s first Franciscan university, St. Bonaventure University is a community committed to transforming the lives of our students inside and outside the classroom, inspiring in them a lifelong commitment to service and citizenship. Out of 167 regional universities in the North, St. Bonaventure was ranked #6 for value and #14 for innovation by U.S. News and World Report (2024).