Alex Stader ’14
Relationship Status: Taken
Major: Pshycology
Hometown: New York
Alex has been apart of Campus Activities and Palmetto Productions all thorugh out his college career and event planning is pretty much his passion and skill. He has been my boss for the past two years and he does so much for the students that many dont even realize. Working behind the scense and putting together events from scratch shows you the magic behind everything. He puts on events from the Welcome Back Party all the way to Spring Ball. He is taken, sorry ladies but he is an awsome guy who knows how to bring together some awsome things for this campus!
How did you start being apart of Palmetto and what made you take the position as director?
“I started working for Campus Activities as soon as I got to Eckerd as a freshman. By the end of my first year at Eckerd I was working as Campus Activities Event Staff and spending almost every ounce of free time I had setting up and breaking down events. After being involved in production of these events Weston started to teach me some of the more technical parts of the job such as setting up sound, lights, and AV equipment. By the end of my sophomore year I had helped out with so many events that I had the novel thought to join Palmetto so I could take my knowledge that I gained from Campus Activities and apply it to the planning process in order to have our events run more smoothly. As Director of Committee my junior year I got to experience the joy and pain of organizing a group of individuals whose job is to volunteer at our events. Working with them to create these awesome events was so much fun that I just wanted to help people to create the event they had created in their heads. I also really enjoy pushing people to come up with creative ideas, and as director I have that opportunity to push my fellow Palmetto directors to create the events that come to their minds. “
As director of palmetto productions what has been the best part of your job?
“The best part of my job as director is watching the crowds pile into an event, that is how I know we did a good job.”
What’s the best part of Eckerd college in conjunction with it’s Campus Activities and your group in Palmetto Productions?
“The best part of Eckerd’s activity powerhouse Campus Activities, Palmetto Production, ECOS, and Student Affairs is that nothing is too big or outrageous if you can find a way to make it work they will try their hardest to help you with it! The Zombie Run for example, I hope this will become a staple of Eckerd colleges programing for years to come. “
Are your career aspirations similar to what you do with Palmetto?
“Yes, currently I am interning with an event-planning agency downtown called Laura Fage Signature Event and Design. We mainly plan fundraising galas for non-profit organizations in the Tampa Bay area. After Eckerd I will be applying to event planning firms hoping to find a job doing what I do now. One day I hope to own my own event space”.
What will you miss most about Eckerd when you graduate?
“What I will miss the most about Eckerd is the close nit community that is formed between the entire Eckerd staff and their students. “
FUN FACT: He rock climbs!
Good luck with the remainder of your Senoir year Alex! We hope you open your own event space so that you can plan all of our fabulous parties in the future, we are counting on you!