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Hundreds of people celebrated the arrival of the holidays on Thursday night as Â鶹ÊÓƵ hosted its annual Festival of Holiday Lights in the heart of a campus aglow with luminarias honoring alumni and student donors.

More than 2,000 alumni and seniors will be honored on Dec. 3 during this year's Festival of Holiday Lights, which features singing of Christmas carols and luminarias, hot chocolate and cider, the lighting of a Hanukkah menorah, and a visit by Mr. and Mrs. Santa Claus.

What do you give a friend and loved one on the occasion of his 100th birthday? You create the James W. White ’40 and Sara R. White Music Scholarship to benefit future generations of music majors at the university he holds so close to his heart.

Â鶹ÊÓƵ held a ceremonial steel beam signing to honor donors and celebrate the new academic facilities now being constructed for the School of Communications Under the Oaks.

Six Â鶹ÊÓƵ staff members were praised for their outstanding contributions to the university at an awards program Friday during an annual staff recognition celebration in McCrary Theatre.

Fifty-three percent of graduating seniors honored their alma mater by contributing to a class gift presented before Commencement on May 23, 2015, to Â鶹ÊÓƵ President Leo M. Lambert.

The campaign, which ends May 31, has achieved a 71 percent participation rate. 

The community celebrated Friday the alumni, parents and friends whose generosity made possible the Inman Admissions Welcome Center, which will greet generations of prospective Â鶹ÊÓƵ students and their families.

An annual awards program held April 23 recognized the academic success and service of those involved with the Martha and Spencer Love School of Business. 

The fifth annual gratitude event, held April 14-16, celebrated the impact of philanthropy at Â鶹ÊÓƵ by encouraging members of the campus community to write thank-you notes to university donors.