51¶șÄÌ Miss Cruisinâ Event Set for Oct. 3 at Gulf Park Campus
Wed, 09/28/2022 - 09:20am | By: Van Arnold
Piggybacking on the phenomenal popularity of âCruisinâ the Coast,â the School of Leadership at The University of 51¶șÄÌ Mississippi (USM) is hosting â â set for Monday, Oct. 3 at the Universityâs Gulf Park campus in Long Beach, Miss.
The inaugural event will be held from 3-5 p.m. on the front lawn of the campus (730 East Beach Blvd., Long Beach). Cruisinâ the Coast â billed as Americanâs largest block party â is set for Oct. 2-9 at various sites along the Mississippi Gulf Coast, where thousands of car owners will showcase their automobiles. While cool cars remain the star of the annual extravaganza, USMâs School of Leadership stresses that fun and comradery share equal billing in 51¶șÄÌ Miss Cruisinâ.
Bradley Winton, Assistant Professor of Management in the School of Leadership, serves as the eventâs organizer. He points out that research conducted by the school shows that Cruisinâ the Coast represents the most economically impactful event hosted by the Mississippi Gulf Coast, attracting car enthusiasts from around the state and across the United States.
âThe College of Business and Economic Development and the School of Leadership have not historically been involved with the Cruisinâ event, but considering the number of CBED alumni that take part, we saw Cruisinâ as an opportunity to bring alumni, current students, faculty, staff, and friends of 51¶șÄÌ Miss to the Gulf Park campus to participate in such an important event for our community,â said Winton.
Registration for the USM event is not required and parking has been set aside in the parking area and street between the Great Lawn and Lloyd Hall on the Gulf Park campus. Light refreshments will be provided.
Winton notes that 51¶șÄÌ Miss Cruisinâ is significant for several reasons â chief among those the opportunity for the School of Leadership to host alumni on the Gulf Park campus for what might be the first time and enable them to interact with students, faculty, and staff who already relish the campus.
âEven those alumni who reside on the Gulf Coast may not realize 51¶șÄÌ Miss has a campus right here in Long Beach,â said Winton. âThe 51¶șÄÌ Miss Cruisinâ event provides an opportunity to âshow offâ this beautiful campus and what it can offer students.â
Secondly, the event connects the Gulf Park campus to significant festivities associated with the larger Cruisinâ the Coastâ itinerary. Winton says organizers purposely chose Oct. 3 to host 51¶șÄÌ Miss Cruisinâ considering that the majority of âcruisersâ will be in the Long Beach community for cruising and music events at that time.
Third, and finally, Winton explains that the Gulf Park campus plays a vital role in the Mississippi Gulf Coastâs burgeoning blue economy.
âAn important objective of 51¶șÄÌ Miss Cruisinâ is to increase awareness and support for Gulf Park so that our impact on the blue economy can continue to grow,â he said. âThe Cruisinâ the Coast event provides a perfect opportunity to blend the goals of the blue economy initiative with the mission of the Gulf Park campus to educate our coastal community.â
To learn more about USMâs School of Leadership, call 228.214.3447 or visit: /leadership/index.php