High Five Hurley registration opens, sees lack of sign-ups for world record attempt

By EMILY HOLLINGSOWRTH

An event hoping to break the Guinness World Records for the most amount of people simultaneously jumping and high-fiving is weeks away, but it is hitting a slight snag as registration has not picked up since it opened on March 7.

An attempt to break the record will take place on Wednesday, April 13 in the Anderson Center. The university’s goal is to get 3,000 registrations, or approximately 866 people and 433 pairs of people high-fiving.

As of now, there have been about 100 pairs who have signed up, according to Erika Spivey, assistant director for University Relations.

Students can register or get involved with the event by visiting www.umw.edu/highfivehurley. The event’s main goal, in addition to breaking the record, according to Spivey, is to honor President Hurley, who was also recently announced as this year’s commencement speaker during the Undergraduate Commencement Ceremony.

“Participation in the event is a great way to say ‘thank you’ to Hurley and show him how much we appreciate him,” Spivey said. “That’s why we’re hoping to fill the Ron Rosner Arena on April 13!”

There will also be two days where students can sign up on Monday, April 4 and Monday, April 11 at the University Center Patio from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Anyone who registers can buy event t- shirts and practice high-fives with the event emcees, Cedric Rucker and Mikey Barnes. Registration is open to students, faculty and community members.

The previous world record for the most people simultaneously jumping and high-fiving belonged to a group who had performed the record during a celebration of British Women Engineers last June. The group secured the record with 432 pairs, or 864 people.

The Anderson Center Doors will open at 2 p.m. on April 13. Participants are instructed to print out their registrations with the barcode and have a valid photo ID to enter. Students will need to pass through security scanners to enter the Ron Rosner Arena where they will be checked in, and where ultimately the attempt will take place.

The official event will start with drawings and entertainment at 3 p.m. There will be a practice run before the official attempt. The event should only last a few minutes, according to Spivey.

Then the judges will determine whether the university holds the record. For students who cannot attend the event, they are able to send virtual jumping high-fives, posting videos or photos on social media and tagging them with #HighFiveHurley and #RecordHighFive.

The event will be recorded and streamed to Goolrick Gym, where an audience not participating in the attempt itself can watch.

“It should be a memorable and exciting afternoon,” Spivey said.