You'd think that Willy Wonka had hidden golden tickets at Collins Dining Hall.

On the eve of Oct. 10, what would have been founding Trustee Donald McKenna's 95th birthday, more than 450 students converged at Collins for a late-night snack of cake and ice cream in memory of McKenna, a Scotsman whose affinity for words started a legacy still palpable among students and alumni. Beyond the pull of food and merriment, CMCers attending snack night were lured by yet another sweet thought: a free trip to Scotland; any students dressed in plaid were eligible to win two tickets to the country.

Winner of the trip was literature major Michael Levy '03, who says, "I was so shocked after the number of the winning ticket was read that I put my ticket back in my pocket, waited a few seconds, then checked again to make sure I had actually won. It was thoroughly surreal."

Word has it that all but about 25 students complied with the request to wear plaid. No news yet on whether the event is the start of a new tradition, or a lifelong affinity for tartan. And in case you're wondering, "I have no idea when I'm going to Scotland," Levy said. "But most likely it will be after I graduate . . . in the spring."

By night's end, 460 tickets, cast only by CMC students, filled the barrel. Only one would win . . .

How do you lure students to Collins Dining Hall after dark? Apparently, with ice cream and cake.

The winning ticket: Literature major Michael Levy '03, with John Faranda '79, vice president for alumni relations and director of development. Levy was the winner of the trip to Scotland.