On Friday night, Up ‘til Dawn will host its grand finale to celebrate months of work. Teams have been building awareness and fundraising since the fall in an attempt to reach their goal amount of $100,000.

Each participant wrote 50 letters to friends and family, asking them to donate to the St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital. After writing about 15,000 letters, students have raised around $70,000 so far.

“This year with the economy, we knew we would have a huge challenge just because the money really isn’t there,” said senior Lauren Felmlee, Up ’til Dawn’s assistant director. “However, I think our main challenge this year is the fact that we don’t have a location.”

In the past, Up ‘til Dawn took place inside the Coughlan Field House. With the construction, this year the event will be taking place throughout Murray-Herrick Campus Center.

“We were not able to go off campus, so this year we will start in the cafeteria and then move down to Scooter’s, Campus Square and some conference rooms. We might be a little scattered, which had a lot of people a little hesitant, but participation should be good this year,” Felmlee said.

There will be food and entertainment, including performances by PULSE and Comedy Sportz. The new location poses complications when dealing with some expectations from the years past.

“No inflatables this year, which I know people are going to be upset with, but we can’t fit them downstairs,” Felmlee said.

In the past, the Grand Finale has gone until 4 or 5 a.m., but due to Murray-Herrick being a dorm, the event must stop at 2 a.m. to keep with quiet hours.

Registration begins at 9 p.m. Friday in the north entrance of Murray-Herrick Campus Center.

Meg Tvrdik can be reached at tvrd0386@stthomas.edu.