Students are decorating their Halls with holly, Christmas trees, mistletoe, lights and many other merry trimmings.

Senior early education major Kristen King said, “It makes it feel like Christmas.”

The decorations offer a time of fellowship, fun as well as providing a festive backdrop.

The Campus Activities Board conducted a contest to find the hall with the most Christmas spirit as part of Christmas in the Quad.

King said, “We would have decorated without the contest because we do it every year.”

Each year the party starts by adding finishing touches to the front of the dorms. Freshman Andie Valenta said, “We’re going to hang wreaths as we’re caroling.”

The halls were evaluated during the quad festivities.

Burt Hall was announced as the winner when the carolers returned to the SUB. The winners received a 4-foot tall, inflatable snowman.

In addition to lobby decorations, some students got into the holiday spirit and decorated their rooms.

Sophomore philosophy major Erika Bahena said, “We decorate for every holiday.”

Her roommate, sophomore nursing major Nicole Hall said she adorned her room last season as well.

Inside their room a small tree is decorated. To add to the festivities Hall said, “We were listening to Christmas music, too.”

The residents plan to make snowflakes to hang.

Decorating for the holidays is a fun activity to bring friends and roommates together.

Sophomore accounting major Amanda Lamar said two of her friends helped select her holiday trimmings. She gives the credit of her creative entryway to her friend Rachel Heffer.

While some do it for fun, other students trim the trees and hang the stockings to bring a little bit of home to their dorm.

“Our whole house is decorated,” Lamar said.

Sophomore early education major Branalyn Nixon said, “As soon as Thanksgiving is over, the decorations go up.”

Some cherished holiday memories are those of her grandmothers.

“Ever since I was a little girl I get a teddy bear ornament from my grandmother.”

One of her grandmothers began the tradition by giving Nixon the first one. That grandmother passed away when Nixon was 18 months old. Her surviving grandmother stepped in and continued to give her the ornaments.

However, she said, it’s the first one that makes the collection even more special.