From left, VUSM students Brad Hill, Sarah Deery, Byron Knowles and Suzanne Bryce cheer for Batson Advisory College during the College Cup Tournament. (photo by Joe Howell)
Med students take up College Cup quest
Gabbe Advisory College’s Scott Zuckerman takes aim during the dodgeball tournament. (photo by Joe Howell)
Chapman Advisory College students get into the spirit of the competition. (photo by Joe Howell)
Students at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine put down their books last weekend to compete in the second annual Advisory College Cup, a “med school Olympics” of sorts, with 15 events ranging from an Iron Chef cook-off to a rock-climbing challenge.
The goal of the event is to promote bonding and wellness among students in VUSM's four Advisory Colleges.
“We make an effort to cater to every student's strengths, interests and talents outside of academics,” said second-year student Yamini Rao, one of the event's organizers.
The cup began Friday night at the Student Recreation Center with an opening ceremony and spirit competition between the four colleges — Batson, Robinson, Chapman and Gabbe. The students performed cheerleading stunts, dance routines and unveiled the new Advisory College crests, which represent the persona and attributes of each college. Chapman College fielded a multi-person dragon while Robinson College strutted its stuff with a flapping raven.
In “American Idol” style, Jim Atkinson, M.D., Lynn Webb, Ph.D., and Cathleen Pettepher, Ph.D., acted as a panel of judges. The evening's events wrapped up with a dodge ball competition.
Saturday began with the Iron Chef cooking competition, followed by a 5-K run around the Vanderbilt perimeter led by Jeff Balser, M.D., Ph.D., associate vice chancellor for Research and interim dean of VUSM. Additional events were held throughout the day, including volleyball, basketball and ultimate Frisbee tournaments, rock climbing, swimming, track events and a trivia competition.
The College Cup ended with a cookout and “laugh Olympics” at the home of Scott Rodgers, M.D., faculty sponsor of the Medical School Wellness Committee, which organized the event. Robinson College emerged the victor of this year's Cup.
“The College Cup is one of the most exciting and fun-filled days in the lives of Vanderbilt medical students, second only to Cadaver Ball,” Rodgers said. “By promoting activities beyond the traditional routine of medical school, we send a message that students should strive to take good care of themselves. This means such things as forming new friendships, exercising and pursuing hobbies.”