Faculty, staff and students will celebrate the spirit of the holiday season during the 87th annual Tree of Light tonight. The tree-lighting ceremony will be held from 6-7 p.m. in the new central campus plaza area.
University President Jim Gaertner will speak at the event. The Orange Pride dance team and university choir will perform and hot chocolate, hot wassail, gingerbread and cookies will be served.
In addition, the Department of Student Activities will collect canned goods at the event for a drive to benefit the Good Shepherd Mission. All students, organizations, faculty and staff are invited to participate.
“The Tree of Light is the university’s oldest and most cherished tradition,” said Student Activities assistant director Angie Burns. “This tree-lighting ceremony is also a time of giving and reminds students and the university community what the holiday season is all about.”
In addition, the office will encourage students and organizations to bring one ornament to decorate the tree both before and during the ceremony, Burns said.
Student Activities will also feature the history of the ceremony during an exhibit in the Lowman Student Center Art Gallery beginning Monday (Nov. 19).
This year, gallery visitors can also view a slideshow of the tree assembly, a new feature of the exhibit, which will be on display through Nov. 30.
For more information, call Student Activities at (936) 294-3861.