Mercer’s Student Government Association (SGA) hosted their yearly Christmas Tree Lighting in Willingham Hall Thursday. The event was followed by Winter Wonderland in Mercer Village, which was put on by QuadWorks.
The annual event usually draws over 500 students, staff and faculty, according to Mercer’s website.
The program was planned by the Heritage Life Committee (HLC), the SGA committee that plans the Christmas Tree Lighting and the annual Pilgrimage to Penfield.
The event featured Mercer Singers, who led Christmas carols, as well as a reading of “The Night Before Christmas” by Nicole Small and Tracey Rowland. Craig McMahan, a professor of religion, gave a Christmas message before the candles were lit.
The event concluded with the lighting of a Mercer Christmas tree and segued into Winter Wonderland, a holiday party complete with hot chocolate from Z Beans, a photo booth and cookie decorating. Mercer students were offered a mug as the annual Christmas Tree Lighting gift.
Student organizations prepared crafts and games and the event was open to the community.
Themba Nsubuga is a junior SGA senator and a member of the HLC.
“I really like [the committee] because it helps me remember what brought me here to Mercer,” Nsubuga said. “Some of the culture, values as well as some of the things that are unique for Mercer.”
As the end of this semester approaches, Nsuguba said that HLC and SGA have more events planned for next semester.
“We have a few projects coming up next semester,” Nsubuga said. “I’m really excited.”
Samantha Homcy ‘23 is a junior at Mercer majoring in journalism and criminal justice. She has been working at The Cluster since her freshman year and served as Social Media Co-Manager during the spring 2021 semester. She is currently a practicum intern with WMAZ-TV. In her free time she enjoys music, community service, watching TV and finding new ways to get involved on Mercer’s campus.
