The University of Memphis Student Ambassador Board is hosting their annual fundraising event, Mud Ball, on Friday, April 10th, at 12 p.m., located at South Hall. SAB sponsors Mud ball each fall semester, but this year they are moving the event into the spring.
The Student Ambassador Board is an exclusive group of highly motivated and dedicated students that help host Alumni Association and Presidential events. According to the SAB webpage, it is the liaison between the administration, alumni, current student body, prospective students and the Memphis community. SAB members meet monthly to host each of the University's Commencement ceremonies.
Mud ball is a volleyball tournament played in six inches of mud. Proceeds from this event go towards the operational costs of the Student Ambassador Board and also benefit the J. Wayne Johnson Scholarship, which was founded in memory of the University’s first mascot and is awarded to graduating seniors.
Johnny Holmes, a senior majoring in criminal justice, is the Co-programming chair of U of M SAB. Holmes said, “Mud Ball is one of the longest running traditions here at the university.”
“There is a lot of RSO’s and sponsors participating this year,” Holmes said. “Students will be competing and playing sports in the mud for a competent title, Mud Ball Champion, and every person playing will get a T-shirt.”
Students interested in participating in the event, can sign up for a team registration fee, which is $120. The fee includes a Mud ball t-shirt for each member, drinks and entry. The deadline to submit applications is Monday, March 30th, at 4:30 pm. However, any applications received after the deadline will be assessed a $15 late registration fee.
“It’s going to be a great event,” Holmes said. “We are going to have music, games, and we want everyone to have fun. That’s our goal.”
Holmes also said that he has been a member of SAB for 2 years. “I’ve joined because I knew that SAB was all about leadership and serving our wonderful university,” he said. “SAB is one of the highest leadership positions for students, and also the prestige that comes along with being on the board is one of a kind.”
Michael Barbour, a junior and the president of SAB said, “The Mud Ball event is a U of M tradition, and going strong for 30 years now.”
“It’s one of our major events that we like to do annually,” he said. “We gather teams and have mud pits at a certain location on campus, and we have tug-a war, volleyball games, and other fun activities at the event.”
Barbour also said that students participating in Mud Ball are be competing for different prizes based off of their bracket system. Also, at the end of each game, participants will win a T-shirt, gift cards and many more fun prizes.
“Especially with it winding down in the semester, coming towards finals, its kind of a stress reliever,” he said. “When people come out, there’s music and really a good time that we have.”
As the president of the University of Memphis Student Ambassador Board, Barbour explained how he became involved with SAB.
“I had the inspiration from a previous member who was apart of the board,” he said. “I really didn’t know what SAB was when I first got in, but after being involved with the board, it basically works with the alumni association. SAB is a liaison between the alumni, the president of the university, and also working with surrounding campus organizations and departments.”
Barbour also said that the members of SAB go out and support a variety of events on campus. “To be any help possible, whether it’s greeting people at the door, hosting events or getting up and speaking on behalf of the student population.”
“It’s a great feeling to be a part of a board who are apart of multiples of organizations on campus,” Barbour said. “We can pull together different events especially for big events such as Veteran’s Day,” he said. “This past fall semester we put on a grand event for Veteran’s Day and we actually are going to be able to bring it back this coming fall as well.”
