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Lighting of the Quad Illuminates Christmas Season at Mississippi College


As traditions go at Mississippi College, the Lighting of the Quad remains a beautiful way to celebrate the Christmas season.

Lights brighten the MC campus in Clinton, guest readers share the Christmas story and visitors are treated to cups of hot chocolate. The November 28 event is free and open to the public. Activities begin at 7 p.m. that Tuesday evening.

Excitement is building as students, faculty and staff pitch in to make Lighting of the Quad an incredible success once again. It’s always a terrific way to showcase how people at the 191-year-old Baptist university celebrate Christ’s birth and love for mankind.

This year’s theme is “Joy to the World.”

“Nothing brings people together like Christmas and we invite all of Clinton to come join us in a huge celebration,” says MC senior Justin Hopkins, 21, of Memphis, Tennessee.

A finance major, Justin serves as chair of the Campus Activities Board, the student leadership group organizing the event.

This year’s version will feature different cultures across the globe. MC is home to about 270 international students. They come from 43 nations, including China, Saudi Arabia, Nepal, England, Germany and South Korea.

Students will decorate rows of Christmas trees on the Quad. There will be plenty of chocolate chip cookies and other treats for guests. The holiday atmosphere is ripe for plenty of good fellowship time. Sounds of Christmas carols will fill the evening air.

Last year’s guest reader was Mississippi College history professor Otis Pickett. “The Christmas season reminds us of God’s great love for His people,” he said. “To me, this means we should continue to be a model of Christ’s love to our community and the world.”

Other guest readers over the years have included: English professor David Miller, communication professor Mignon Kucia and Terry Dent, director of the Office of Student Success.

Lighting of the Quad ushers in the spirit of Christmas. It begins a series of events on campus to welcome the holidays. Led by the MC Singers, the Festival of Lights at Provine Chapel is another extraordinary event that shouldn’t be missed in early December.