As December approaches and Christmas lights illuminate campus, students can look forward to the crowning jewel of decorations on The Bluff: the annual Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony.
The President’s Office and the Associated Students of the University of Portland (ASUP) will host the event, which takes place on Dec. 1 at 4 p.m. in the academic quad. All are welcome to join.
Around 200 complimentary Christmas tree ornaments will be given to attendees who brave the cold, with the ornaments’ design changing every year. Hot cocoa and assorted snacks will be served.
ASUP also plans to recognize one outstanding faculty or staff member and ask them to be this year’s “count-downer,” according to ASUP President Aidan James Sanchez. Sanchez didn’t say who the “count-downer” would be, and he encourages students to find out at the event.
For Sanchez, what makes this ceremony cherished is seeing how Pilot pride shines the brightest.
“The Christmas tree lighting is one of my favorite events of every school year,” Sanchez said. “I just really love seeing our community gather to ring in the holiday season.”
Sanchez recognizes the commitment and passion that go into the annual event. He says ASUP has the lighting ceremony down to a science, and he trusts their ability to adapt based on the weather and any unforeseen obstacles that may arise.
The annual Tree Lighting Ceremony began in 1911 after Thanksgiving weekend. From 1999-2019, ASUP was the primary sponsor of the event.
Director of Student Activities Jeromy Koffler says the university wanted to put student leadership at the event’s core after the ceremony’s cancellation in 2020.
“One of the goals at that time was to increase attendance from faculty and staff,” Koffler said. “So the student government and the President's Office agreed to work together to co-sponsor the event, and that's what's been happening since 2021.”
Having gone from primary sponsor to co-sponsor, ASUP suddenly had more resources to add new details to the ceremony, including hot chocolate and other treats.
The Christmas tree isn’t the only campus decor of the season. Sanchez credits the facility workers for decorating the Bluff to kick off the festive season.
“I view this event as a way to recognize our facility service staff members and workers, as every student has seen them working extremely hard,” Sanchez said. “Especially the last couple of weeks, [they’ve been] putting up the lights on every tree and the wreaths.”
According to Senior Grounds Manager Nathan Hale, illuminating the university is when the facilities crew is most recognized for the role they play on campus.
"Most of the time when my team is out raking leaves or trimming trees, nobody really notices,” Hale said. “So this is the time of year that people come up to the crew and say, ‘We always like this time of year,' or, 'Oh, we love it when the lights go up.'"
Hale says the facilities crew has been putting up lights and wreaths, as well as decorating the tree for the lighting ceremony, for years to make campus brighter.
“Eight or nine years ago, we started with a couple boxes, and every year we've just added a little more to it,” Hale said.
Hale emphasizes that campus members should thank the facilities crew, even if they are just pruning a bush or clearing a pile of leaves.
Rieve Randall is the Community Engagement Editor for The Beacon. He can be reached at randallr28@up.edu.
