The Spirit Spot Showdown, an artistic competition in which winners earn a reserved campus parking spot for a semester, successfully debuted at 天美传媒鈥檚 2025 Spirit Weekend.
Over the last nine years, Spirit Weekend has become a cherished tradition among the Adelphi community. This annual celebration brings together current students and alumni, their parents, and University faculty and staff. Attendees participate in everything from campus tours to family-friendly carnival games, live performances, reunions and Casino Night鈥攁nd, this year, goat yoga.
But Spirit Weekend 2025 also introduced a brand-new tradition: the Spirit Spot Showdown. The winner earns a prize every commuter dreams of: a reserved parking spot for the remainder of the semester.
Students, faculty and staff were invited to paint a parking spot, and designs were judged on school spirit, community engagement, positive representation and inclusivity. The final artistic statements went before the entire community, generating more than 1,500 votes cast by students, faculty, staff, administrators, parents and families, and returning alumni who were eager to weigh in on the best design.
For This Accounting Major, “Victory Was the Only Option”
Frank Genna Jr. 鈥�25’s winning entry, “Endless Summer”, reflects his participation in Adelphi’s Swimming and Diving team.
The competition celebrated two winners. First was Frank Genna Jr. 鈥�25, an accounting major and Accounting Society executive board member, whose motivation was uniquely generous.
鈥淪pirit Weekend gives us all the opportunity to show our love for the University and each other,鈥� Genna said. Despite his passion for the school, his primary driver for the Showdown was his girlfriend. 鈥淪he鈥檚 always late to class, and a parking spot for her sounded like a nice little gift. I wanted that spot bad. Victory was the only option.鈥�
A lifelong surfer and lifeguard, and captain of when he was a student, Genna skillfully incorporated a strong water motif into his design, successfully blending his personal interests with Panther pride. He and his girlfriend, who now uses the spot daily, proudly welcomed the post-Spirit Weekend victory.
For James Tullo 鈥�27, Adelphi Feels Like Home
The second winner, James Tullo, a junior in Adelphi鈥檚 accelerated exercise science program (BS/MS), sees Spirit Weekend as a deeply personal connection. 鈥淚t鈥檚 about connection, belonging and celebrating the people who make Adelphi what it is,鈥� he said. With both his parents being proud Adelphi alumni who met on campus, Tullo鈥檚 connection is familial and profound.
Tullo鈥檚 winning design was inspired by his feeling that Adelphi is his second home. 鈥淭hat feeling inspired everything about my design,鈥� he stated. His creation incorporated school colors and symbols, along with personal touches like the AU Collar Scholar black聽Labrador mascot, Echo鈥攁 nod to his role as founder and president聽of the 天美传媒 Collar Scholars.
Tullo now parks in his reserved spot, calling it a 鈥渞eminder of his time at Adelphi.鈥� He adds, 鈥淚t really does feel like my little piece of home on campus.鈥�
The Verdict: A New Spirit Weekend Tradition Is Born
The colorful designs of the Spirit Spot Showdown generated Panther pride and engaged the entire community. Given the immediate enthusiasm and high participation, this artistic endeavor is well on its way to becoming a cherished Adelphi tradition for years to come.