A banner for Taste of Marquette hangs outside of the front entrance to the building. The annual tradition took place in the Commons on Wednesday, Sept. 20, as part of the Homecoming activities for the week. Both the Class of 2024 and Class of 2025 ran the event with all proceeds going toward both classes’ Senior Farewells. Senior Farewell is a safe drug-free, alcohol-free event held the night of graduation for the recent graduates.

Seniors Cai Walz, Jessica Aldenderfer and Rita Samad look at baskets that are up for auction at the annual Taste of Marquette held Wednesday, Sept. 20, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.  The three seniors attended Taste of Marquette prior to playing in the Mustang Matchup, formerly known as the Powder Puff game between the senior and junior girls.

Baskets of donated goods lined the tables of the Commons. Toward the middle of the event, Freshman Principal Dr. Rick Regina hosted a silent auction for the baskets. 

Off to the side of the auction table, junior Apurva Ganti serves attendees bubble tea from the Honey Bee Tea stand while guests taste food from nearby stands. In late 2022, Honey Bee Tea extended their chain to St. Charles and Brentwood. 

Owen Plein, junior, serves up cinnamon roll pancakes from Billy G’s Finer Diner. Plein has worked at the Finer Diner on Clarkson Rd. in Chesterfield since they opened about a year ago.

Seniors Alexia Monticone and Abhigna Dugaputi carry their trays from booth to booth at Taste of Marquette. The seniors made it their goal to visit and try every restaurant at the event within an hour. “I love how it was an interactive community and how different types of restaurants contributed because we got to eat a lit bit of food from everywhere and have a great time with friends,” Monticone said. 

Tables of Taste of Marquette attendees fill the Commons. Taste of Marquette was open to everyone, including students, staff, family members and local members of the Rockwood community. Participants purchased tickets in advance as no tickets were sold at the door.

Junior Stella Goltzman and her father Aaron Goltzman pose with their tray of food. Many parents, siblings and grandparents accompanied their students to the event, making Taste of Marquette a family-oriented event.  

Guests try out foods from local restaurants, while volunteers and representatives from the restaurants serve hungry attendees. Guests were provided with multiple vouchers that allowed them to visit a variety of restaurants.

Volunteers Soujanya Kommepalli and Maggie McGinn serve bundt cakes at the Nothing Bundt Cakes booth. Nothing Bundt Cakes is located in Chesterfield, and sells a wide assortment of bundt cake flavors and sizes, for any occasion. 

Students and faculty converse while trying new foods at Taste of Marquette. Tickets for the event sold out ahead of time online.