Alum attempts to break hugging world record
November 9, 2016
Shaped into a line along the perimeter of the atrium were 100 individuals, faculty and students, with arms spread wide. Running down this line, sweaty but smiling, was Tom Krieglstein, 2000 Outstanding Graduate of the college, sporting a shirt that read “Free hugs!”
Krieglstein visited campus originally to speak about entrepreneurship to students, but he chose to make his visit to COD a lasting impression by attempting to break the world record for most hugs in one minute on campus. The original record is held by Krishna Kumar of India, who hugged 79 people this March.
With 100 community members gathered, they ran full speed at an excited Krieglstein, standing at the beginning of the line where he wrapped his arms around each individual as student affairs director, Chuck Steele, watched with two stopwatches and a whistle. As each student ran into the arms of Krieglstein, their faces were lit with smiles.
Choosing COD as the location for the world record attempt was easy for Krieglstein. The college was where Krieglstein grew as a student and an individual. Entering as a C-average student, he graduated a member of Phi Theta Kappa. COD was the same place that inspired him to start his organization, Swift Kick.
In 2004, Krieglstein launched Swift Kick, where he is a speaker that travels to hundreds of schools to meet thousands of student leaders and train them on creating an atmosphere of acceptance and inclusion of all students.
Since its creation, Swift Kick has traveled to over 500 schools and trained over 200,000 students to be leaders. Not only has Krieglstein worked on launching Swift Kick, but he has experience with online learning for student leaders through his creation of The Student Affairs Collective. He has also dedicated time to tech startups all based around assisting students.
A piercing sound of a whistle halted students from their sprinting as the minute ran out, all of those involved quickly surrounded Steele and Krieglstein as they watched the video. The once loud atrium fell silent. Their eyes remained set on the iPhone screen and their mouths mouthed each number, 79… 80… 81.
“We think we got 100!” Announced Krieglstein with arms in the air. The atrium was then filled with cheers as he continued to explain that the final decision will be made by the Guinness World of Records.
