Lighting the way ahead: Texas Tech celebrates Carol of Lights, 100 years of history
In 1959, a few students from Texas Tech residence halls gathered at Memorial Circle to sing Christmas carols and socialize while drinking hot chocolate.
In the years following, that holiday gathering of students who stayed on campus rather than traveling home for the winter break has evolved into a community wide event that draws the eyes and hearts of Red Raiders across the world.
On Friday, tens of thousands from the community flocked to Lubbock - with many more watching online - as the university hosted the 64th annual Carol of Lights.
This year, the Office of the President announced it would reimagine the event in a new way to help usher in the holiday season, but also to mark Tech's 100th birthday.
Speaking at the event, Tech President Lawrence Schovanec said Carol of Lights is not only a moment to reflect on the history and culture of the university but also to look ahead to what it may become.
"Our university was born out of a need to serve West Texas and this community," he said.
Shovancec reflected on the close bond the university and Lubbock share and how one aspect of the centennial celebrations is the goal of having the Tech community volunteer one million hours of service around Lubbock.
Blayne Beal, director of Centennial Celebrations, said in an earlier interview with the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal that as of the morning of Nov. 28, the Red Raider community has logged 97,000 hours of service since the volunteer campaign kicked off earlier this fall.
Red Raiders have until the next Carol of Lights to log as many hours of service as possible, Beal said. For more information about logging service hours go to 100.ttu.edu/volunteer/.
Friday's festivities also included performances from the Maines Brothers Band and Wade Bowen as well as Christmas carols from the university's combined choir. And they were all joined by voices of the thousands in attendance.
After a countdown, the 25,000 lights illuminated the heart of campus along with a three-minute-long firework display.
Centennial Events
As the university begins its next 100 years, the next centennial celebrations will continue on Jan. 16, with the MLK Day: Centennial Service Event in Lubbock.
The university has a long legacy of service to the community, which will continue into the next chapter of its history, Schovanec said.
The next event after MLK Day will be another service event nationwide on Feb. 10. The Founders Day - Texas Tech Alumni Association National Volunteer Day coincides with the founding of the university in 1923 and also goes along with the Founders Day Centennial Illumination event in Lubbock.
Later in February, the celebrations will go down to Austin on Feb. 28 for Capitol Tech: A Texas Tech Centennial Celebration and on March 1 for Texas Tech Day at the State Capitol.
Celebrations will move to Houston for Boots & Bowties: A Texas Tech Centennial Celebration and Texas Tech Day at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo on March 10 and 11.
All events from Feb. 28 to March 11 require tickets or an RSVP to participate.
The celebration will briefly return to Lubbock on April 14 for Tech’s annual service event, Tech to Town.
Celebrations will head east again for the Stars at Night: A Texas Tech Centennial Celebration in Dallas. Tickets are required.
On Nov. 23, celebrations are headed to the Big Apple for Broadway to Broadway: A Texas Tech Centennial Celebration in New York City. On Nov. 24, tune in to see the Goin’ Band perform at the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade for the first time.
Finally, the celebrations will wrap up back in Lubbock on Dec. 1 for the annual Carol of Lights. More events are planned throughout the state and in Lubbock with more information coming soon. More information can be found at 100.ttu.edu/events.
"As we embark upon our second century, join with us as we elevate our thinking from big to bold," Schovanec said.
This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: Texas Tech celebrates Carol of Lights, 100 years of history
