Nearly 75 years after the tradition began, Mary Baldwin hosted its first Apple Day as a university and alumni felt the spirit of celebration far and wide.
MBU alumni in Richmond celebrated for the fourth year in a row at Blue Bee Cider. As one of the 175 Acts of Good honoring MBU’s 175th anniversary, the group collected cans of food for a local food bank.And alumni in Northern Virginia, Washington DC, and Maryland celebrated with a happy hour at Bar Deco. Both groups also toasted MBU’s 175th anniversary.
“Apple Day is a wonderful time to visit with fellow squirrels and is always a great opportunity to have a glass of cider and recognize Mary Baldwin’s commitment to community service,” said Nicole Brenner ’07.
Closer to campus, more than 120 students started the day with a trip to Woodbine Farm to glean 4.250 pounds of apples. The fruits of their labor were donated directly to Noah’s Ark charity foundation in Washington to be distributed to those in need. Following the gleaning, a special Apple Day feast was prepared in Hunt Dining Hall with food that complimented the day’s theme such as apple cider, apple and walnut salad, and apple pie. Student clubs and organizations hosted an afternoon carnival in the Student Activities Center parking lot. The carnival was complete with a mechanical bull, an inflatable bounce house, and dozens of club tables with unique items for sale.
Madeline Stout ’17 wanted to memorize every moment of the day. “This was my last time participating in apple gleaning,” she said. “As a senior I found Apple Day this year to be bittersweet. I found myself throughout the day a little sad because it marks another last time. I always enjoy myself, and this year was no exception.”