Arizona PBS, Cronkite School Host Public Open House Feb. 12

PHOENIX – (Feb. 3, 2016)

Arizona PBS invites community members, families and children of all ages to attend Arizona State University’s Night of the Open Door, the university’s largest open house event of the year.

The festivities kick off Feb. 12 at 4 p.m., at the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication on ASU’s Downtown Phoenix campus and feature a variety of family-oriented games and activities.

Guests are invited to tour the $71 million state-of-the-art studios and facilities of Arizona PBS and ASU’s Cronkite School and participate in a number of interactive activities, including sitting at an anchor desk.

All guests will have the opportunity to snap selfies with Cookie Monster, along with other beloved PBS KIDS characters. Children are encouraged to participate in a giant, interactive coloring project that invites them to create art together while exploring educational themes from PBS KIDS and the American Graduate initiative. Every child who participates will receive an honorary “diploma,” courtesy of Arizona PBS and American Graduate.

“The Night of the Open Door event is a wonderful opportunity for families to spend a fun-filled evening together on the ASU Downtown Phoenix campus,” said associate director of Educational Outreach Kimberly Flack. “We’re looking forward to engaging with the community and sharing more about our educational mission here at Arizona PBS. Whether it’s participating in family-friendly games and activities or touring our studios, there’s something for everyone.”

Interactive and family-oriented activities hosted by Arizona PBS include:

• Arizona PBS studio tour with Studio Productions Manager Jeff Halberg
• Selfies in front of the PBS Nerd wall with Cookie Monster and other PBS characters
• PBS Nerd T-shirt giveaway
• A giant community mural blending educational themes from PBS KIDS and the American Graduate initiative
• An information table hosted by the Arizona PBS Educational Outreach team
• A giveaway featuring PBS KIDS from Arizona PBS Educational Outreach
• A complimentary copy of Arizona PBS’ monthly magazine
• “Honorary diplomas” from Arizona PBS, American Graduate and ASU

ASU’s Night of the Open Door in downtown Phoenix offers community members a peek inside one of America’s premier universities. ASU Downtown Phoenix campus activities also include investigations into cadavers and a station in which participants can create their own comic strip. Guests can catch a glimpse of the new Arizona Center for Law and Society.

On the day of the event, visitors are encouraged to stop by the University Center lobby, located at 411 N. Central Ave., for tour information. All interested in attending are encouraged to RSVP online at opendoor.asu.edu and follow the action on Twitter at #ASUopendoor. There also is a free Night of the Open Door Event app available for download.

Night of the Open Door on the Downtown Phoenix campus is hosted by ASU’s Cronkite School, College of Health Solutions, College of Nursing and Health Innovation, College of Letters and Sciences, College of Public Service and Community Solutions and Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law.