Cornhole, Competition and Community: FPU’s Summer Olympics

What started as a way to fill a slower season and put a pile of recreation equipment to good use has grown into 10 weeks of competition, laughter and connection among departments from across campus.

The Summer Olympics have changed and improved quite a bit over the years, but the goal has remained the same: create a fun environment where FPU employees can step away from their desks, spend time together and build connections with colleagues they might not otherwise get to know.

The Summer Olympics is a ten-week competition held every Thursday during the summer in which the various departments that make up FPU strive to be the best at whatever random game or challenge I throw at them. All departments can participate but there is a regular 17 or so that compete each week with 50-100 participants—pretty much anyone on campus during the summer.

Some events are basic and have been staples since the beginning, such as cornhole and the other lawn games.

Other weeks have been more unique, such as creating an archery range on the Green or blowing boats across a pool with leaf blowers. Some events could have gone better, could have used more practice, or were just plain not a great idea (it’s probably been long enough for some of us to enjoy watermelon again, right?). It’s nice to know that the community has enough trust in the Summer Olympics to where I feel I can be creative and fresh in how we compete.

Tracking points to determine a winner has changed significantly each year. At first, I just threw points out randomly in whatever way I felt made sense. While there is still some of that, there is a complex system of point values and adjustments with an emphasis on team pride and spirit netting more points.

Summer 2027 will bring a change to how points are revealed, keeping totals hidden until the final closing ceremonies. The idea is to keep departments coming each week with the hope that they could be counted alongside Campus Safety, Registrar, University Marketing and Communications, and Student Development as winners of the Summer Olympics Trophy.

Competition aside, the Summer Olympics have grown into a significant social time during a potentially isolating and lonely time on campus.

If your entire office is out on vacation for a week, at least you know you will have some human interaction on Thursday at lunch. The buy-in from others on campus, such as Staff Exec and fellow staff, has made it possible to add fun themed snacks or lunches, encouraging folks to stick around and mingle with their co-workers.

The Summer Olympics have been great and are a part of why I enjoy working here, but they are only possible because of the involvement of the FPU community. I would look pretty silly playing cornhole by myself in a corn costume. It’s the smiles, conversations, and people that make me excited to keep this thing going. Thank you all. Looking forward to Summer 2027!