On Friday, December 4, the WVU Tech community gathered to celebrate the holiday season during the University’s sixth annual Light Up Old Main event.
The popular celebration kicked off in front of Old Main, where the community gathered to watch the iconic building lighted with traditional holiday bulbs.
After the lighting, the crowd moved into the WVU Tech Ballroom, where they had their photos taken with Santa and Elf Monty. Judges from WVU Tech and the Montgomery community selected winners in the student ginger bread house competition and attendees enjoyed karaoke, s’mores, hot chocolate, cookie decorating and holiday gifts.
Emily Sands, Associate Dean of Students, said the annual event is well-attended because it offers students a chance to relax and catch up at a time when they are facing the stress of the semester’s end and upcoming seasonal travel.
“Light Up Old Main is one of the most popular campus events of the year. There’s a simple reason why that’s the case,” she said. “WVU Tech students are at home here. They’re surrounded by those they count among their friends and family, and this event gives them a chance to gather for no other reason than to celebrate that very community. It’s a fantastic window into the welcoming and generous spirit of our students, faculty and staff.”
For Health Care Administration major Anderson Nagasaki, Light Up Old Main was also a chance to meet new students.
“I believe it was a good experience and it was fun sharing with my friends. I was able to meet other students and some professors. I think it was a great experience seeing how open and welcoming the university is,” he said.
During the event, the WVU Tech chapter of the Alpha Sigma Tau sorority collected donations of new, unopened toys to be distributed this holiday season by Toys for Tots.
Check out photos from the event on Flickr.