Celebration of Lights set for Dec. 1 at 7 p.m.

SMU kicks off the 2014 holiday season with one of the University’s most beloved annual traditions — the Celebration of Lights 2014 — at 7 p.m. Monday, Dec. 1, on the Main Quad.

Refreshments will be served prior to the event, beginning at 6:15 p.m. in Hughes-Trigg Student Center.

The celebration features than 140,000 decorative lights, luminarias lining the sidewalks, musicians performing songs of the season, SMU President R. Gerald Turner reading the Christmas story from the New Testament, and lighting of the SMU Christmas tree. 

Members of SMU student organizations will bring wrapped gifts to the celebration for 82 children selected by Dallas CASA's Angel Tree program. Dallas CASA's angels are children who have been affected by domestic violence.

A live stream of the event can be seen at www.smu.edu/live . 

Celebration of Lights Program
Carol of the Belles	Stampede w/ Julian Spearman
Welcome	David Lee Student Foundation President
A Christmas Song	Matt Farley and Luke Nassar
Emmanuel	Voices of Inspiration
Invocation	Dr. Steve Rankin University Chaplain
Angels We Have Heard On High	Richmond Dewan and Audience
What Are You Doing For New Years Eve?	Ally Van Duren & Charlie Weber Accompanied by Esther Lim
Santa Claus is Coming to Town	Southern Gentlemen
O Holy Night	Matt Morón and Audience
Baby It’s Cold Outside	Elliot Bouillon and Jacqui Jacoby
The Christmas Story	Dr. R. Gerald Turner President of Southern Methodist University
Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas	Belle Tones
Closing	Jack Murphy Celebration of Lights Chair
Silent Night	Shannon Conboy and Audience
* Brazen Brass Quintet Members: Dylan Smith, trumpet; Chelsea Orr, trumpet; Kirstin Schularick, horn; DJ Taylor, bass trombone; Kevin Butler, tuba
** Please refrain from lighting your candles until asked to do so.

Celebration of Lights Committee

Chair – Jack Murphy

Vice Chair – Kelsey McLaughlin

Marketing – Maddie Wallace

External Affairs – Mattie Casey

Catering – Haley Holland

Entertainment – Mallory Massa

This year Student Foundation has partnered with Dallas CASA in support of their Angel Tree program.  SMU students have come together to provide over fifty children with Christmas presents that have been collected throughout this year’s Celebration of Lights program.  These presents will be distributed to the members of the Dallas community throughout the month as students share the meaning of the season.

Event sponsored in part by Hyatt House and by the Mike Miller Celebration of Lights Endowment.