A Light on the Hill sparks interested students
Candles burned bright in the audience as faculty and hundreds of students gathered together for the fifth annual ‘A Light on the Hill’ convocation. Each audience member was given a small white candle to light near the end of the presentation.
Each year, the College of Humanities and Social Sciences (CHaSS) organizes a gathering for all students and faculty who want to meet new people and find out what Utah State University has to offer them.
“I hope they feel welcome. I hope they feel a part of the college, a part of something bigger than themselves. I hope they get involved,” said Natalie Archibald, executive assistant to the dean.
She and her team organized the ‘A Light on the Hill’ event, and the number of attendees grows with each year.
“We’ve been trying to build community,” said John C. Allen, dean of the CHaSS. “This is the fifth year that we’ve done A Light on the Hill and the idea was that if we could figure out a way to bring new students and returning students and faculty together for a symbolic way of creating community, we’d try it.”
The event began with a couple short speeches from Jeff Sonderegger, the CHaSS student senator, and Mark Damen, professor of history and theatre arts.
Encouraging students to be involved with activites around them was the focus of Sonderegger’s discourse.
“What I want to encourage you to do is take advantage of the opportunities that are offered here at school,” Sonderegger said. “We have all of these clubs, all these organizations. Get involved with them. Instead of just focusing on the path in front of you and being miserable, you can enjoy the beauty around you. School doesn’t have to be miserable. It’s only miserable if you make it miserable.”
The faculty lit their candles first and passed through the rows lighting the student’s candles, one by one, until everyone had a light.
“Find your passions. Let education change your life,” Allen concluded, as the candles burned in the amphitheater. “Find your passion. It’ll last you a lifetime.”
The event ended bright as CHaSS student Joe Kaili performed a traditional Tongan dance with use of a flaming torch.
—ashley.ruth.stilson@aggiemail.usu.edu