Scrappy's Bucket List

Kennesaw State students become first to complete Scrappy’s Bucket List competition

By Kennesaw State University

March 22^nd, 2023

Kennesaw State students Gabrielle Jones and Summer Williams just made history at the University, but it wasn’t easy.

“Because of COVID, I spent my first two years as a KSU student at home,” said Jones. “So now, being recognized as one of the first people to finish an on-campus activity is something that I never would have imagined.”

In the Fall 2022, Jones and Williams learned no students had completed Scrappy’s Bucket List (SBL), so they set out to become the first.

SBL, an award-winning Division of Student Affairs program, was introduced on campus in Fall 2021 and includes 63 activities for students to complete before they graduate. A few months ago, Jones and Williams, co-head peer leaders for the Strategic Outreach and Diversity Initiatives (SODI) office’s Thrive program, received emails saying they had completed a percentage of SBL and they could pick up a prize. It was then that they learned only a few students had completed more items on the checklist, and none had finished.

“I love a challenge,” said Jones. “Summer and I decided then and there that we would be the first.”

The two friends spent the next few weeks plotting events they needed to attend and selfies they needed to take to cross off items on the list. SBL activities include attending a Homecoming event, snapping a selfie at Fifth Third Bank Stadium, attending a Diversity Week program, and joining a registered student organization. Students can track their progress by swiping their Talon Cards at events and uploading the selfies to an online portal.

“The best parts about completing all 63 things were getting to know both campuses better and meeting people I never would’ve met without Scrappy’s Bucket List,” Williams said, noting that meeting President Kathy Schwaig at a Homecoming event and taking a selfie together was one of her favorite things on the list.

Jones and Williams admit some of the more difficult items on the list were taking photos with specific people, like President Schwaig and Vice President of Student Affairs Eric Arneson, and finding hidden gems, like the concrete canoe on the Marietta Campus.

“Scrappy's Bucket List was created to get students involved and discover transformative experiences outside the classroom,” said Arneson. “Summer and Gabrielle completed many of the 63 items on this list together, which showcases their friendship and drive to create a memorable college experience here at Kennesaw State University. I can’t wait to see them both at graduation with their commemorative cords to celebrate this great achievement.”

Students earn rewards when they complete 10 percent, 25 percent, 50 percent, 75 percent, and 100 percent of SBL. The final prizes for completing all 63 items, a number chosen to mirror Kennesaw State’s founding in 1963, are a coveted graduation cord and challenge coin.

“Another great thing about exploring those areas of the Kennesaw and Marietta campuses was I got to see places I’d never been to, and most of the time I brought friends along with me,” Jones said. “It was not only fun, but it was a bonding experience!”

Jones and Williams encourage all students to check out the list and use it as a guide for a fulfilling Kennesaw State experience.

“Scrappy’s Bucket List is a great way to get involved and get to know KSU better,” Williams said. “When I came to college, I felt a little out of place because it was a new environment with so many new people. SBL is a great way to get out of your comfort zone and meet new friends. Maybe you’ll meet someone as eager as me and Gabrielle and you can finish the list together!”