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West Virginia University held its 22nd annual lighting of Woodburn Hall Tuesday, kicking off the holiday season.
Faculty, staff, students and community members all waited for Student Government Association President Jason Zuccari to welcome the audience and begin the ceremony Tuesday evening.
Zuccari praised the University for continuing the tradition of lighting one of WVU’s most recognizable buildings.
"It was my first time speaking at the ceremony," Zuccari said. "It’s not only a West Virginia tradition but also an SGA tradition. It is probably my favorite event, It really does kick off the holiday season."
Mountaineer Idol AJ Warne, a sophomore business management major, and other Mountaineer Idol finalists sang holiday favorites like "Walking in a Winter Wonderland" and "Let it Snow."
Kiah Harpool, a freshman psychology major, attended the ceremony to experience the tradition for the first time. She loved the performance Warne gave and said it was a great touch to the ceremony.
"I’ve always heard about the lights and I really just wanted to see what it was about," Harpool said. "It is a great memory."
The audience crowded in Woodburn Circle, and helped count down until the building was lit.
"5... 4... 3... 2... 1...," shouted SGA Vice President Whitney Rae Peters through the microphone, alongside the crowd.
Zuccari and Peters were accompanied on stage by Zuccari and WVU President James P. Clements’ family including his wife, Beth, and three of his four children.
Zuccari then asked everyone to participate in singing "Jingle Bells."
Students like Sarah Caputo, a junior social work major, feel like the holiday season has now officially begun.
"I felt like I was in New York City when they light up the tree," she said. "It really made me excited about the Holidays."
After the lighting, the crowd was invited to the Vandalia Room in the Mountainlair for hot chocolate and cookies, where someone was dressed as Santa Claus.
Attendees provided gifts for WVU’s Students Helping Other People/Toy Mountain program. Gifts will be donated to the Salvation Army and Christian Help.
Woodburn will continue to be lit until January 18th.
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