On Friday, October 19 and Saturday, October 20, the Seton Hill University (SHU) Make-A-Wish club hosted its sixth annual Night on Haunted Hill. Guests from both the SHU and Greensburg community were invited to come and celebrate the season.
By Valerie Masciarelli
Editor in Chief
On Friday, October 19 and Saturday, October 20, the Seton Hill University (SHU) Make-A-Wish club hosted its sixth annual Night on Haunted Hill. Guests from both the SHU and Greensburg community were invited to come and celebrate the season.
Themed after Disney’s “Pirates of the Caribbean” movies, the event included a haunted house, marshmallow and hot dog roasting over campfires, a carnival, hayrides and, for the first time ever, a performance by the new SHU Dance Team.
The hayride, driven by Darren Achtzehn, director of food service, was a particular favorite among the younger crowd.
“It’s an absolutely awesome experience when you see the look in their eyes as you show them the sights of campus. Kids enjoy it, and they behaved themselves very well,” said Achtzehn. Some of the young guests echoed his enthusiasm.
“The guy told us not to look up, but we looked up!” said Carly Collins from Mt. Pleasant.
“I liked when he hit all the bumps and he said all those funny things,” said Tyler Moskal, 9, from Greensburg.
Moskal and his brother, Zack Moskal, 10, also enjoyed the haunted house, which featured Make-A-Wish club members dressed as “Pirates of the Caribbean” characters such as Captain Jack Sparrow and Captain Barbosa. The end featured a brief “duel” performed by these characters.
“(I liked) the end, when the two pirates were fighting,” said Zack Moskal.
“The haunted house was awesome,” said Ben Graham, 6, from Greensburg.
Make-A-Wish families in the area were invited to Night on Haunted Hill and granted free admission.
“We work with the local chapter in Pittsburgh and they send out an invitation on our behalf to all the Wish kids in our region,” said Kathy Fajt, administrative assistant to the dean of student services and sponsor of the Make-A-Wish club. Fajt said eight Make-A-Wish families had confirmed that they would be in attendance this year.
Having just received his Make-A-Wish wish in June, it was the first time Kody Brentzel, 16, from Derry, Pa., was invited to the event. He and his family came out on Friday night.
“I thought it was interesting. It was cool because I like the ‘Pirates of the Caribbean’ movies, so it’s a good theme,” said Brentzel, who also said he would like to come back again.
SHU students and staff members said they enjoyed bringing their children to Night On Haunted Hill.
“It was a nice family thing to do for Halloween and it supports the Make-A-Wish Foundation at SHU,” said Shannon Moskal, a senior, and also the mother of Zack and Tyler Moskal.
“I do think it’s geared for younger kids, though,” added Moskal.
“My husband works here… We come every year, it’s always a good time,” said Ann Venzin of Greensburg.
The carnival portion of Night On Haunted Hill included booths run by the Class of 2009, Dietetics club, Psy Chi, Student Body Activities Council, Students in the Arts, Social Work club, Spanish club, Chemistry club, and English club, according to Fajt.
Andy Lonigro, a junior, helped run the English club’s make-your-own-cookie station.
“We provided the icing and little treats that you could put on the cookie. The kids would come and decorate their cookies and put icing and whatever all over it. They had a good time,” said Lonigro.
“They were really cute,” Lonigro added.
In addition to the dance performance, another new aspect of this year’s Night On Haunted Hill was the 9 p.m. – 10 p.m. college student hour.
“Each year, something new is added,” said Fajt.
The main goal of the Make-A-Wish club is to raise enough money to grant a Wish child’s wish. Last year the club fulfilled this goal, and Fajt said the club is hopeful that they can do it again.
Former Make-A-Wish president Tiffany Brattina, a post-baccalaureate student obtaining her teaching certification, helped host tours through the haunted house.
“I have a different view of the haunted house now that I’ve been student teaching for a semester. It’s good to see the kids’ faces as they walk through the house,” said Brattina, who was happy to assist the Make-A-Wish club again.
“(The club) is in my heart forever and always,” Brattina said.