Updated! President’s Tree Lighting

The Northwest and Maryville communities are invited to celebrate the holiday season during the annual President’s Tree Lighting, hosted by President Lance Tatum and the First Lady Jill Tatum.

The program will include remarks from President Tatum and Student Senate President Phillip Motazedi as well as music performed by Northwest’s Tower Choir and the Horace Mann Laboratory School choir.

After the tree-lighting ceremony, attendees may take photos with Bobby Bearcat and Santa Claus at the Hubbard Hearth and Fireplace at the Gaunt House patio, in addition to enjoying refreshments. Children are invited to make a holiday craft and reindeer food.

The Gaunt House, located on Fourth Street at the south edge of the University campus, was built during the 1870s and added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1979. It has served as a residence for Northwest presidents since the institution’s founding in 1905.