“The biggest surprise about FOP was how leadership training became...almost more important than the experience freshman year,” Moses said.
Event organizers cited curiosity about the history of FOP as their impetus for planning the celebration.
“We wanted to find out how...FOP started, how traditions like warm and fuzzy cheesecake began.” Mehta said. “We wanted to see how it became a 25-year, intergenerational community. A lot of it is about building for the future.”
While the program has offered different trips over the years, participants noted the commonality of their experiences.
“The elements of the program have changed, but I think the spirit is the same,” said 2003 Steering Committee member Chelsey Tanaka ’04.
“When you go through a rainstorm together or eat some food that’s been on the ground...you’ve accomplished something different than just taking a class together,” Whitmire said.