Editor’s note: The author, Darby Self, is a member of the University Scholars Organization.
The University Scholars Organization held its fourth annual Holland’s House of Horrors on Oct. 26 in the McCombs Center at UT Martin.
The haunted house served as its fall fundraiser, helping to gain funds to support the organization.
The University Scholars Organization is an on-campus honors program that focuses on developing students for success after college. Students partake in various classes, attend cultural events and complete community service hours. Holding the haunted house is a way for scholars to gain hours while raising money for the organization.
This event is entirely student-produced.
“All roles are volunteered for. People help where they can and when they can. After people decide what room they want to be in, the people in the rooms make decisions for the storyline of the actors and roles as a group,” said Emma Self, a sophomore Civil Engineering major from Somerville and the University Scholars Organization Fundraising Chair.
Students work for seven weeks leading up to the haunted house.
“The whole project is a group effort. One person cannot do a room, and one person could definitely not do the whole haunted house. Scares are also better together. It is much more disconcerting to have two masked actors staring at you than just one,” Self explained.
This event allows scholars to gain community service hours and also allows them to see the process of their hard work paying off. At the event on Oct. 26, more than 200 people went through the haunted house, making it one of the most successful houses yet. Additionally, haunted house attendees were able to purchase a shirt showcasing that they “survived Holland’s House of Horrors.”
“The 2024 Holland’s House of Horrors was super successful. A great number of scholars worked hard to create a super spooky event, creating a turnout that was even better than last year’s. We hope to continue this pattern of hard work and lots of fun this time next year,” Self said.
For more information on University Scholars Organization fundraisers and next year’s Holland’s House of Horrors, follow the University Scholars Instagram, @utmuso.
