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Hundreds of Southern Illinois University Edwardsville students poured into the Morris University Center’s Goshen Lounge Wednesday to take advantage of the giveaways, prize drawings, entertainment and fun. 

The annual Merchants Fair was part of SIUE’s Welcome Week, which celebrates the return of students to campus for the fall semester. 

“Any kind of activity with free cupcakes is a great event,” said Josh Griffey, a senior majoring in electrical engineering. Griffey was finishing up a chocolate cupcake that he got from the table of The Cup in Edwardsville. He was trying his hand at Edison’s Entertainment Complex’s wheel in hopes of winning a prize or two. 

“I go to Edison’s all the time with my friends,” Griffey continued. “It’s a great place. We play a lot of laser tag.”

 Nick Ballard, a freshman majoring in pre-medicine, was equally impressed with the amount of food and promotions available for the asking at the Fair.

 “There is a lot of free stuff and a lot of cool deals here,” Ballard said. He was engaged in learning more about RoverTown from Mike Philip, the company’s CEO.

 “We offer student discounts on a free app,” Philip said. “Jeffry Harrison brought the program to Edwardsville. We have more than 100 locations around town.” Harrison, SIUE School of Business alum, is RoverTown’s chief operating officer. RoverTown is an app that sends local coupons to a college student’s smartphone when they click on a bone.

 RoverTown was one of 53 vendors at the Fair. 

Photos:

Spinning the wheel at the Edison’s Entertainment Complex table is Josh Griffey, a senior electrical engineering major. In the background are Edison’s employees from left to right: Tori Ray, party coordinator; and Tom Rezabeck, marketing manager. 

Sampling a cupcake from The Cup in Edwardsville is Samone Harper, a freshman majoring in nursing. Welcoming Harper and others is Keeley Reed, shift leader at The Cup.

Nick Ballard, a freshman majoring in pre-medicine, discusses the RoverTown free app with the company’s CEO, Mike Philip.