QuadWorks transformed Penfield Hall into a plushy paradise as students lined up to stuff and customize their own bears on Sept. 27. With a line stretched all the way from the waterfall by the Cornell Student Center to the front of Penfield, the annual event attracts participants from across classes at Mercer.
"I come every single semester it is hosted," Brielle McLean ‘26 said. “I cannot miss a Stuff-A-Bear.”
"This is my most exciting QuadWorks event, as I am not able to attend many,” Taylor Parker ‘29 said. “I want something to commemorate my time here, so that's why I came out today.”
Students chose from an array of different plushies, including dogs, pandas and, naturally, Toby the Bear. Once the bears were complete, students could adorn them with an "I Heart MU" t-shirt, or a shirt with their class year to turn the stuffed bears into a miniature time capsule to commemorate students' time at Mercer.
"A big goal of ours is for the community to come out and have fun and take the stress away,” Chelsea Smith '26 said. “Being able to spend time with friends and form new friendships is really important, especially for the first-year class who are just coming in and getting adjusted to Mercer.”
Students got together to build their bears side by side and new friendships formed as students chatted to help one another, Kalani McClendon '28 said.
"We have a supportive community at Mercer, and being able to branch out to people outside of your major and make new connections is so important,” McClendon added. “That's why we love to host events like this, because it is an easy way to get people together."
Precious Clark '26 is a Law & Public Policy major with a minor in Political Science. She works at the circulation desk in Tarver Library and Auxiliary Services. When she is not writing for The Mercer Cluster, she enjoys reading, drawing and listening to Tame Impala.
