MOST OUTSTANDING NEW EVENT NOMINEE
Vietnamese Student Association at Louisiana State University (VSA-LSU)
VSA-LSU Escape Room
Provide a detailed description of the event and the population it served. Details MUST include: date of event, number of participants, program purpose (goals, objectives, etc.), use of resources (finances, community support, etc.), and marketing techniques.
VSA hosted a all day long Halloween-themed Escape Room on November 1st, with 48 participants. The event aimed to provide a fun, team-building experience where participants solved puzzles to escape within an hour. The event used 2 escape rooms and 1 waiting room.
Upon arrival, participants were led to a waiting room where the rules were explained, then moved to one of the two escape rooms. Each room was highly decorated with spider webs, caution symbols, cardboard coffins, and other spooky elements to create an immersive experience. The lights were turned off, and the windows covered to enhance the atmosphere. Each room featured a pre-recorded video introducing the story and giving the first clue. Participants then worked together to solve all the puzzles to find the key to escape. Moderators were present to observe, offer hints upon request, and ensure smooth operation of the puzzles.
To make the event possible, fundraising played a key role in covering costs for decorations. The decorations team was responsible for transforming the three rooms, creating the spooky atmosphere with items like spider webs, cardboard coffins, and other Halloween-themed items. They also worked on setting up the eerie lighting and covering the windows to fully immerse the participants. In addition, they created a backdrop for the teams to take pictures after escaping.
The puzzles team designed and tested all the puzzles, ensuring they were challenging yet solvable. This included mind puzzles, locked boxes, ciphers, and more. They also developed decoys—misleading clues and extra puzzles—to keep participants on their toes. The puzzles were dry-run with fellow and past eboard members to ensure smooth execution during the event.
The logistics team created the pre-recorded video shown at the start of each session, which introduced the story behind the escape room and gave participants their first clue. They also developed the schedule to keep the event running smoothly, making sure the timing and flow of teams were properly managed.
To promote the event, we posted on social media and heavily encouraged participation at VSA events. We also used SignUp Genius, allowing participants to choose a convenient timeslot. The team aspect of the event helped attract non-VSA members, as it gave them the opportunity to participate alongside their friends, even if they weren't part of VSA.
What inspired your organization to create this new event?
This event was previously held by VSA LSU before COVID, and we wanted to bring it back because it's unique. An hour-long escape room isn't something many other clubs offer, making it a special experience. Additionally, with Halloween being a popular time for themed activities, we knew this event would attract attention and be a fun way for members to engage.
What efforts were used to motivate and involve the organization's members?
To motivate the members, we advertised the free pandan waffles that we were giving out at the event! We also made sure to advertise it to as many people as we can, especially freshmen. We advertised via instagram posts and stories, as well as word of mouth.
Did the organization overcome any challenges that arose while planning and implementing the event? How?
A challenge was managing the timing and flow of participants. To address this, we ran two rooms simultaneously, with a third serving as a waiting area where the rules were explained. This helped maintain the event's schedule.
We also had to ensure puzzles were solved in the correct order. Moderators dropped clues only after previous puzzles were completed, keeping teams on track.
Finally, we offered hints if teams got stuck, though each hint added time to their escape challenge to keep it fair. We also dry-ran the escape room and adjusted the puzzle difficulty as needed.
