With luminaries lining the Quad and Christmas music billowing from Denny Chimes, Circle K began the holiday season for the 31st consecutive year.
Despite the overcast skies, hundreds of UA students stopped by to enjoy free hot chocolate and the festive spirit, all put together by Circle K to raise money for the W.D. Partlow Developmental Center.
"It's a great annual event, a tradition for us at Circle K and does a good deed for Partlow Hospital," said Circle K secretary Alisha Linam, a junior majoring in history.
Since 1976, Circle K has been hosting the event, which raises money to present gifts to residents of W.D. Partlow Developmental Center.
"There are a lot of different service projects that Circle K is involved in, but this is the single largest," said Alton Highsmith, Circle K's faculty adviser.
Kiwanis adviser David Womack said student attendance varies year-to-year.
"It really depends on how many people are walking by. There are fewer places to park now and a lot of times its students taking a study break," Womack said.
Past Circle K members also came, along with others who had been attending for years.
Robert Boylan, a UA alumnus, said he is one of the people who attend the event regularly.
"It's awesome, we've been coming for five years," Boylan said. "We graduated in May and we're back for this."
For some, however, it was a step back from previous years.
"Normally they light up the whole Quad. It's still nice but its always nicer with the whole thing lit up," said Christie Carlise, a senior majoring in accounting.
The holiday tunes being played from Denny Chimes was also a pleasant change for some attendees, including Taylor Boone, a senior majoring in nursing.
"I like the music, you can hear it all throughout campus," Boone said.
Jingle Bell Rock and Deck the Halls were just some of the Christmas songs played from the Chimes by Derrick Meador, a graduate student focusing on organ performance.
"It's a lovely opportunity for me to share my musical gifts with the school and also for the chimes to be heard when normally not in this manner," Meador said.
The event was a joint effort by the Capstone's Circle K club, Holt High School's Key Club, Shelton State's Circle K club and the Kiwanis of Tuscaloosa.
Circle K is a branch of the Kiwanis International organization and the largest college based community service group with more than 13,000 members.
The club participates in many different community service programs throughout the year such as Relay for Life, the Ronald McDonald house, Moundville Native American Festival and Red Cross blood drives.
Some members had either heard about the club from a friend or previously been involved with a Kiwanis organization.
"I joined Circle K since I was in Key Club in high school. It's a good way to get involved on campus and meet people," said Bryant Henderson, a sophomore majoring in dance.
He said participation with Kiwanis before college was not a requirement to join UA's Circle K now.
"One of the common misconceptions is you have to be in Key Club to join Circle K," Henderson said.
Circle K meets every Tuesday at 7 p.m. in 300 Ferguson Center.
Be the first to comment on this article!
Log in to be able to post comments.