What makes a college tradition more than just a friendly competition? You may be familiar with the concept of dorm wars or a battle of the buildings happening at college campuses across the country. These types of residence hall competitions are filled with high stakes, fun, and memories that will last for years to come. At Geneva College, our very own Covey Cup does all this and much more. Covey Cup is more than a beloved annual competition for students; it offers a unique opportunity to build community, have fun, and foster a sense of true belonging within the Geneva community.

Building Community Through Residence Life

Covey Cup allows all students to further build community at Geneva. Being in community with others is a crucial part of thriving at college, and Covey cup is a meaningful way to do so. Students spend the weekend participating in various events, getting in the spirit of hall pride, and cheering their friends and teammates on. Students who might not normally interact come together to support and show up for each other.

Resident assistant Julia Palmiera ’27 says, “Covey Cup is a community building Residence Life event that invites students to celebrate each other’s gifts and enjoy the blessing of fun and belonging with their halls!”

It can be easy to isolate within a college community, but Covey Cup encourages students to enjoy being with each other and honor their God-given abilities.

Making Time For Play

The Covey Cup tradition is not only about building a strong community but also learning to have a joyful time while doing so.

Kate Jeanes, resident director of Mckee Hall, states, “I hope that students come away from Covey Cup recognizing that play is such an important part of life! Yes, we need to work hard in many areas of life, but we also need to have fun, play, and laugh together! God is a God of fun and joy, and Covey Cup allows us to partake in that!”

Having fellowship with one another is a significant part of living in harmony. Residents can sign up to participate in many unique events, from World Cup soccer to parallel parking, and even sync swim, a competition that involves a choreographed dance routine with swimming elements on land.

Creating Memories

Sure, winning the Covey Cup trophy is a sweet victory to celebrate, but it is a small part of a larger purpose. Covey Cup strengthens the sense of belonging by giving students a wonderful opportunity to build relationships, get involved, and create forever memories during their time at Geneva.

Resident assistant Isabel Nordyke '28 recognizes this, sharing her hope that “residents will walk away from Covey cup with a sense of belonging that they might not have gotten before.”

As a resident assistant myself, my greatest joy from Covey Cup is seeing students who are not as outgoing or involved on campus coming out of their shells, showing up, and looking forward to Covey Cup each year. Covey Cup is not just a competition or annual Geneva tradition, it is truly a time for creating long-lasting memories, shared joy, and a community that feels like home.