April 8 outside the Axe Library, Pitt State continued their oldest enduring tradition: Apple Day. It was put on by Campus Activities. The day started with faculty giving students apples. Then outside the library, there were free shirts, food trucks, music, dirty sodas, apple games, and apple treats. Dr. Newsom was present at the event as well with his wife, Vicky. The city of Pittsburg also had a proclamation to celebrate the relationship between the city and university.
Bailey Talkington, assistant director for campus activities, helped organize the event by reserving event spaces, overseeing logistics, organizing activities and food vendors, coordinating campus departments like Development, Alumni, Marketing, and the President’s Office, and ensuring the overall experience reflects the spirit and history of Apple Day.
“Apple Day is one of the longest-standing traditions on our campus and serves as a moment of shared identity and unity,” Talkington said. “It recognizes the connection between students, faculty, staff, and the greater Pittsburg area community. Events like apple distribution, scholarship drawings, and involvement from offices across campus highlight how Apple Day brings everyone together in a way few other events can.”
Jil Bierkaemper, a foreign exchange student from Germany and graduate student in chemistry, thought Apple Day seemed like a funny festival. She also said she enjoyed the apple slices dipped in chocolate.
“I heard about this and it is a funny festival,” Bierkaemper said. “So, I wanted to see this and I wanted to have this experience.”
Donald Frisch, a junior majoring in automotive technology and business, was volunteering at the event. He also thought it was a chance to meet new people.
“I wanted to get involved,” Frisch said. “I’m actually volunteering for Student Government Association, and I just like being with the other guys. A lot of the fraternities and sororities are here because of Greek week, so it is a great chance for me to meet some people you haven’t met before.”
This tradition preserves university history according to Talkington. Pitt State president R.S. Russ’s fine of a barrel of apples, is a part of Pitt State history, that continues with Apple Day.
“Upholding traditions like Apple Day helps preserve the university’s history while creating meaningful experiences for current students,” Talkington said. “It’s a way of honoring those who came before us while reinforcing a sense of pride and connection today. For many students, this may be their first exposure to campus traditions, and Apple Day becomes a memory they associate with feeling welcomed and valued.”
Additionally, this event is held by collaboration, Talkington said.
“I think that events like Apple Day are reminders that traditions only thrive when a community invests in them,” Talkington said. “Collaboration between departments, faculty and staff, and student engagement is what helps make this event so successful.”
Frisch finds Apple Day to be an important tradition to keep alive.
“A lot of Pitt State is about tradition,” Frisch said. “Tradition carries a big part of everybody’s lives, especially for when people are coming back as alumni and what not. So, it’s important that we keep the tradition alive.”