OU student group to host apple-themed fundraiser

By Eric Reikowski, media relations assistant

Long established as a fruit of cultural and national significance, apples are the inspiration behind a fundraiser being planned by members of Oakland University's American Studies student group. The group will host an event from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 24, to fund the planting and maintenance of an apple tree at the Orchard of Hope.

A charitable project sponsored by Forgotten Harvest, the orchard is located at Blake's Big Apple in Armada, Mich. Fruit from the orchard will be used to feed the hungry and homeless in metro Detroit and throughout the state.

“Over the past three years, the American Studies concentration -- the oldest interdisciplinary program in the College of Arts and Sciences -- has experienced exciting growth, launching a series of exciting, intellectually compelling campus-wide events, like bringing important national scholars to campus,” said Dr. Jeffrey Insko, associate professor of English and coordinator of the American Studies program.

“Along with the concentration's growth has been the development of an American Studies Student Group. This is exactly the kind of student-initiated, academic and service-minded event that universities are designed to foster and encourage.”

The event will feature an array of apple-related festivities. Attendees can learn about the iconic fruit's history and enjoy a variety of apple fare, such as baked confections, apple sauce and apple cider. Activities will include bobbing for apples, cider pong, an apple toss and a pie-eating contest. Festivities will take place outside the north entrance of the Oakland Center.

For more information, or to learn more about the American Studies program, view the website at oakland.edu/americanstudies or contact Dr. Insko at (248) 370-2253 or insko@oakland.edu.

Oakland University is a vibrant academic community with more than 20,000 students and more than 260 degree and certificate programs. To learn more about academics, achievements, and events at OU, visit the news site at oakland.edu/newsatou and follow the news team on Twitter at @OaklandU_News.