Nearly a thousand UH students took a break from their studies to participate in the traditional Finals Mania event at Cougar Woods Dining Commons. Music played by the deejay attracted students, while Shasta and volunteers handed out snacks for the week. Cougar Card Services scanned students’ Cougar Cards for entry, and Student Housing and Residential Life set up a table to assist with preparations for the next semester.
“We know it feels very manic when you're in the middle of finals, when you're studying, when you're preparing,” said Alexcis Mendoza, district marketing manager, UH Dining Services. “We want the students to know there’s a place they can come enjoy some comfort food and hang out with good vibes.”
Students had breakfast options for dinner, including vegan items like pancakes, roasted breakfast potatoes, and Beyond Meat plant-based sausage patties. Other available items were scrambled eggs, farro peach hot cereal, sausage patties, and French fries. Desserts like cake and pancake toppings were also provided.
Mechanical engineering freshman Michael Garcia attended Finals Mania after studying at the library. “I feel great right now. I’ll go study some more,” he said after eating. “The food was pretty good, and I got three different snacks.”
Graduate students Milad Borzooei and Rojan Firuznia found the event helpful for preparing for final exams. “I think it’s a good event for students … they got to get prepared for final exams,” said Borzooei. “It’s just fun and you can hang out with your friends.”
Public Health junior Adedamola Aladekere appreciated the free food as a destresser during Finals Week.
“I’m definitely grateful to get free food during finals week to just take off a little bit of stress of preparing for the finals, it’s definitely good,” said Aladekere. “I do like how they give a variety of snacks and stuff to help out through the finals week, so I can save some for later.”
Overall, Matt Oltremari, director, Auxiliary Services, responded positively to the event's reception among students. “I think it’s very well received by the students,” he said. “I’m very happy with it.”
This was the third year that Finals Mania was held at Cougar Woods Dining Commons. Oltremari mentioned that he aims to involve more departments in the future, reminiscent of the diverse representation when the event was held at the M.D. Anderson Library.
“It was a very diverse representation from across campus,” he said. “I think now, being at Cougar Woods, things have changed a little bit and we’re looking to expand that out to get more students involved.”
