By Marley Anthony, Assistant Editor

The Student Event Planners Association, or SEPA, is working with Harris Community Center to host the first ever SEPA Winter Formal on Nov. 6, 2026, with the goal of turning the formal into an annual event. The formal will feature a student DJ, catering from a local restaurant, a dance floor and photo opportunities.

SEPA is an organization on campus with a goal of building and growing community, through hosting events for students and partnering with local businesses to learn the behind the scenes of business ownership.

“We wanted [an event] to be big, something that people would remember,” Madi Patterson, president of SEPA said. When the semester first started, Patterson and vice president Hailey Weldon were brainstorming event ideas the organization can hold. When the idea of formal first started it was just a dream, but as more doors opened formal became a reality.

With formal, SEPA introduced four committees, hospitality, community service, content creation and photography. “We wanted all hands on deck because it’s a big event,” Weldon said. Every committee will work together to help bring the ideas of the SEPA Winter Formal to life. Until formal happens, these committees are gaining experience and growing together through other SEPA events, like SEPA Worship Night that happened on Sept. 14.

“[Seeing] everyone bring all their gifts and talents together to make this event happen…seeing it all happen is really exciting,” Patterson said. 

SEPA will be setting up multiple booths in Bawcom to sell tickets leading up to the event, as no tickets will be sold at the door. Tickets will be $5 and the first booth will be Sept. 28 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.. For more information on SEPA and the SEPA Winter Formal, check out their instagram @umhb_sepa.

Photo by Emily Jenkins/ The Bells 

SEPA committees gain experience and grow together through event like SEPA Worship Night on Sept. 14.