Celebration of Lights Tradition & History

“In 1977, the Student Foundation had a committee named the Hilltop Committee. This committee was set up to "Thank" all who had contributed to SMU with monies up to $999.00.

In the years prior, a dinner was given in their honor. On the summer retreat of the Student Foundation Board, (they) reviewed the response to the dinner and decided a change was needed. At that time, (an individual) proposed a community "Thank-you" by having a Christmas Lighting Party, like Texas Tech has. SMU, at that time, did not put a Christmas tree up or even celebrate the Holiday Season. (The Student Foundation Board) all agreed and the wheels of organization were set in motion. After asking the head of the Maintenance Department of SMU… and getting permission from President James H. Zumberge's office, (they) ordered Christmas Lights to decorate Dallas Hall, and some of the trees along the Main Quad, at a cost of $5,000.00.The maintenance department then realized that we, the Student Foundation, were serious and then they decided to get involved and became excited about the prospects of this event.

They did not like the idea of Orange Lights … and somehow they were able to order enough white lights to do the entire lighting project. The only catch was every new white light had to be screwed into each individual socket! Being ever so resourceful, the entire student Founcation and friends, spent many hours late into the night taking the orange light bulbs out and replacing them with the white light bulbs.

Our event was called The Festival of Lights and was held on the first Sunday in December inviting all of the Students, Alumnae, University Staff, and the Dallas Community. The sidewalks were lined with luminaries, a large Christmas tree stood in front of the fountain, the University Choir sang Christmas Songs and President Zumberge to read the King James version of the Christmas story.

All was set for our FIRST Annual Christmas Lighting. When the main switch was turned, Dallas Hall and the Campus Trees and the Christmas tree were lit with BRILLIANCE! The crowd that had gathered, numbering large, all gasped with surprise and then clapped with glee!!!

At the close of the ceremony, you could hear people singing carols and walking back to their cars and dorms. It was truly an exciting event, especially for me, my committee and the entire Student Foundation members.

The response the Student Foundation and the University received was overwhelming. The Student Foundation Board voted for this to become an annual event. The problem was back to monies needed to replace any broken bulbs from year to year and to expand to more buildings and trees in the future. That spring, I and the President of the Student Foundation, Carol Niederer, now Carol McMahon, went to the Board of Regents and requested funds be allocated to continue our event. It was unanimously approved. However, after our event, we realized that the "Festival of Lights" was actually a Jewish celebration and therefore we renamed our event, THE CELEBRATION OF LIGHTS.

Since 1977, The Celebration of Lights has become THE annual Holiday Season event for the Student Body, the University and the Dallas. Community. I have returned, as I know many otherswho were on the Student Foundation in 1977, to witress and celebrate this memorable event. I hope to return soon to share with my son this special Holiday Celebration.

It gives me such pleasure to know this event continues with the SMU tradition.”

Vicki Sterquell, 1977 Hilltop Committee Chairman