Showing up with one of the smallest programming budgets, UF's Reitz Union Board Entertainment left with the biggest prize Saturday at the National Association for Campus Activities' regional conference in Winston-Salem, N.C.
Kristen Huff, RUB Entertainment president, attributed UF's first-place finish Saturday to a dedicated, tight-knit group of students all working together to produce better programming for UF's diverse Student Body.
"It means so much to me," Huff said. "It's a recognition for all the hard work we do."
UF beat Eckerd College's Palmetto Productions from St. Petersburg to win the top prize in the $150,000 and below budget bracket.
"When she announced it was us, we exploded-we were screaming and shouting," said Amy Casaletto, vice president of external affairs for RUB Entertainment. "People from other schools were Gator chomping for us."
RUB Entertainment's budget of $118,000 provides UF with free movie viewings, comedians, karaoke programs and a variety of other free nightly programming.
"A lot more schools had a lot more money than we do," Casaletto said. "I really think that's why we won, because we do something every night and it's always quality and it's always free."
Although the award carries no monetary value, Huff hopes the top award will mean a greater amount of funding in future years.
"We just want students to have as much fun as we do," she said.
