This year’s Veishea was met with several record-breaking events, including putting Ames on the map as the location of the world’s largest Rice Krispie treat.

“Veishea 2001 was a record-setting year in a lot of respects,” said Brian Nash, Veishea co-chair. “Everything turned out great. We said this would be the best Veishea celebration yet, and it turned out that way.”

This year, Dew the Rec with Wayne Brady attracted about 3,400 people – the largest crowd ever for the event, said Nash, senior in mechanical engineering.

Iowa State will appear in the Guinness Book of World Records for the largest Rice Krispie treat, which weighed a record 2,480 pounds. The treat was distributed Saturday afternoon on central campus and raised over $1,500 in donations for Youth and Shelter Services.

“Building the treat was an awesome experience, and I’m glad we beat the record,” said Alyssa Armbrecht, Rice Krispie Treat committee chairwoman and senior in food science. “I was relieved when I realized we beat the record. I don’t know what I would have done if it didn’t weigh enough. It was a great feeling to beat the current record.”

Kathy Craig, Veishea co-chair, said she thinks those attending Veishea succeeded in “Creating Cyclone Unity,” this year’s theme.

“There was increased student involvement, and people got back to celebrating Iowa State like Veishea was meant to do,” said Craig, senior in Spanish.

Nash also said the goals he and Craig set were met and exceeded.

“A lot of people were a lot more positive than in years past,” he said. “I didn’t know how everything would turn out when we started planning last April, but everyone was very supportive.”

Veishea is a traditional event that should be kept alive, Nash said.

“Veishea is an event that one can’t put a monetary value on,” he said. “The lessons and experiences people learn are priceless, and we need to keep Veishea going. It’s a great tradition.”

This year, Veishea saw a few changes which Craig said she thought helped draw more crowds.

“The Battle of the Bands were with Taste of Veishea, so people could listen to music when walking around and giving the bands more exposure,” she said. “With the parade being sooner, people could walk around the open houses or go to the spring game if they wanted to, or just get things done sooner.”

The committee wanted to get students involved during the week so they would stay for the weekend, Craig said, and she was happy with the results.

“All I heard was compliments all weekend about how well Veishea was going,” she said. “We had a great turnout of people of all ages, and not just Iowa State students.”

The general co-chairs for next year’s Veishea – Jen Fritz, junior in genetics, and Mark Ringkob, junior in agronomy – were announced at Closing Ceremonies. Craig suggested next year’s committee set goals for Veishea early and make sure they meet deadlines. Veishea has worked so well for so long because the committee is always open to changes and improving on years past yet keeps the traditions that make Veishea, she said.

“The committee needs to remember this is a celebration for everyone, because that has been a problem in the past of not including everyone,” Craig said. “We asked people what they wanted, and it worked out well this year.”