Rubber ducks race in seventh annual 'Rubber Duck Derby'
Lifeguards corral hundresd of rubber ducks at the Rubber Duck Derby March 26 at the Soaring Eagle Waterpark and Hotel.
Yellow and white rubber ducks were released from the top of the waterslide at Soaring Eagle Waterpark and Hotel March 26 as an audience of students and community members cheered them on.
The seventh annual "Rubber Duck Derby" was held by PR Central and sponsored by the Central Michigan University Public Relations Student Society of America. The money raised at the event will go toward the funding of the yearly student scholarships to attend the PRSSA National Conference.
“The event is for a really good cause," said Davison freshman Bailey Talaska, PR Central intern. "All the money goes back into PR Central and for PR students to take them to the annual conference where they are able to network and meet people, learn new things and meet new people.”
Life guards stood at the end of the waterslide, stopping the ducks and deciphering the winners. In previous derbies, the ducks would race from the top of the slide through the lazy river, but this year they were stopped at the very end of the slide.
Soaring Eagle Waterpark and Hotel employee Makayla Smith said there were simply not enough life guards this year for the ducks to go any farther.
The first three ducks to cross the finish line were deemed the winners and awarded prizes.
Participant Howard Malhado won first place receiving $500, Diana Stone came in second winning a two-night stay at the Soaring Eagle Waterpark and Hotel with water park passes and Joellen Mitchell took third place and was awarded with a CMU Swag Pack.
There was also a silent auction featuring items from the businesses in the Mount Pleasant community, including IHOP gift cards and a one-night stay at the Super 8 Hotel.
PR Central sold 1,370 rubber ducks for $2 each and made close to $150 from the silent auction, raising about $2,900.
“Today just alone, we probably sold 300 ducks, which is awesome for tabling all day,” said Menominee senior Karli Clausen, CEO of PR Central.
The Rubber Duck Derby and silent auction were both broadcasted on the PR Central Facebook page, so participants did not have to be present to win.
“The Rubber Duck Derby is during Mount Pleasant’s spring break and I believe Midland’s spring break, so this is something a lot of families look forward to each year,” Clausen said. “It’s really great to just see PR Central as Central Michigan University representing the school and the community come together and come alive for this event.”
