In honor of the retirement of President Richard V. Hurley, “the high-fiving president,” the University of Mary Washington will attempt this spring to break a Guinness world record. The goal is to achieve the highest number of people performing simultaneous jumping high-fives.
For the April 13 event, UMW will host an official Guinness World Records judge, who will determine on site whether UMW succeeds at establishing a new record. The attempt to break the current record of 432 pairs of high-fives will be open to both the university community and the community at large. The event will take place in the William M. Anderson Center on the Fredericksburg campus at 4 p.m., with doors opening at 2 p.m. Registration, which is free but required, will begin on Monday, March 7. Due to building capacity, UMW will accept 3,000 registrants, and the first 2,500 participants to arrive at the event will be included in the official attempt.
“I’m humbled by this honor…a chance to make history,” said President Hurley, who will retire in June after serving nearly six years as president. “What a high on which to leave UMW!”
Throughout his tenure, the institution’s ninth president has become known for high-fiving students as he passes them on Campus Walk. More recently, he’s given graduating seniors a “code word” that signals a request for a high-five instead of a handshake as they cross the Ball Circle stage at Commencement.
Senior Hannah Tibbett, student government association president, said Hurley’s signature gesture speaks to his warm and inviting personality. She added, “Students are excited about paying tribute to Hurley and his high-fives through the Guinness World Records attempt, while also engaging the UMW campus and the Fredericksburg community.”
The current record for most people performing a jumping high-five simultaneously was achieved last June in London during a celebration of National Women in Engineering Day. A simultaneous jumping high-five pairs two participants, who take a little leap while slapping palms together. Participants must perform the move within five seconds of a signal being given.
For more information, visit www.umw.edu/highfivehurley or contact the Office of Media and Public Relations at 540-654-1055.
Alaha Ahrar says
President Hurley is the man of honor! He is a very respectable man! He is an extraordinary president. I consider myself as one of the luckiest students, who attended University of Mary Washington during his leadership.
I am very proud of being a graduate of University of Mary Washington!
A big LOVE for UMW! : )