Many Keene State College seniors participated in their final campus-sponsored event before graduation on Sunday, May 3, 2015: the biannual Pub Crawl.

Pub Crawl, which typically takes place on one Sunday each semester, invites seniors of drinking age to bar-hop through town, celebrating with friends while wearing complementary “Pub Crawl” tee-shirts.

The Spring 2015 Pub Crawl was a first for KSC senior Shawni Ogle, who missed the Fall Pub Crawl due to student teaching.

“I loved this Pub Crawl,” Ogle noted after the event, “We are so passionate about spending our last moments together before we graduate.”

Ogle continued, “The excitement of all being together really pumps everyone up.”

After attending the Pub Crawl with her best friends, Ogle said that she can’t wait to graduate.

“I’ve had a wonderful four years here but I can’t wait to begin my own life and make money doing what I love,” she said.

Another KSC senior, Varick Parizo, said he found himself too swamped with school work to attend this semester’s Pub Crawl.

“I did two pub crawls last year,” Parizo said, “It’s really a great experience.” Parizo described the events as

Colton McKraken / Equinox Staff

groups of people coming together and partying at the bars in town.

“Everyone just has a good time,” Parizo added, “I feel like it’s a tradition of good fun and a day of drinking. Plus, everyone [this year] really lucked out with perfect weather!”

Besides Parizo, a number of other seniors were not in attendance.

“I’d assume it’s because they’re feeling the crunch that happens at the end of every semester,” Parizo predicted.

Like every other KSC student about to graduate, Parizo said he is looking forward to his impending freedom.

“It’s kind of bitter sweet. I’ve loved my time here and made this place my home but at the same time I’m ready to move on to bigger and different things,” Parizo said.

He added, “Pub Crawl last year was a blast for me both semesters and it was something that almost everyone looks forward to. As long as people drink responsibly it’s one [of the] most fun days of the year. It’s like the last time you get to really drink out on the town with all your buddies before you all go off [and] start your post-college lives.”

Taylor Warriner, KSC senior who had just attended her second Pub Crawl, said she agreed with Parizo.

“I’ve been having the best time ever at this Pub Crawl,” Warriner said, “I love it because it brings together so many different friend groups and we all get to bond together before we graduate.”

Warriner said she made her way into town with a group of friends, and appreciated the time she got to spend with the people who made her time at KSC so enjoyable.

“It’s the last time I’m going to be able to bond with the people that mean the most to me, and to get together for a whole day and dance, enjoy a few drinks and each other’s company means the world to me because I know I won’t be able to get together with all my different groups of friends after graduation,” Warriner explained.

With less than a week to go before graduation, Warriner said she is looking forward to the big day with only a little bit of apprehension.

Warriner said, “I’m looking forward to it but at the same time I’m not because I actually have to be an adult and I can’t have the Thursday dollar drink nights anymore with my Keene friends or the Saturday night porch nights.”

Warriner continued, “But at the same time I’m excited to start my career and make the money I’ve been spending on tuition worth it.”

In the end, Warriner is embracing what’s coming next, and looking forward to what life has to offer.

Warriner concluded, “I can’t wait to see what the future has in store for all my friends here at [KSC]. I hope they enjoyed their time here as much as I have enjoyed mine.”

Jill Giambruno can be contacted at jgiambruno@kscequinox.com