Liberty University’s Office of Graduate Life and Commuter Life hosts second annual Winter Gala
Commuters and graduate students attended the second annual Winter Gala dressed in suits and sparkly gowns. The offices of Graduate Life and Commuter Life hosted the formal in the LaHaye Event Space Thursday evening, Feb. 21.
Senior Family and Consumer Sciences major Kristen Fitzgerald said she had been looking forward to the event for some time and spent the day pampering herself with a few of her closest girlfriends.
“I just wanted a night to come out with a couple of friends and have a chance to really dress up,” Fitzgerald said. “We made a day out of it and got our nails done earlier and spent the evening getting ready together. It was a really special day, and I’m so thankful for memories like the ones we
made tonight.”
The evening provided entertainment from an etiquette lesson to multiple smooth jazz bands that filled the room with old Hollywood vibes.
Freshman interdisciplinary student Nycole Gallian was one of the student workers from the Office of Student Life who helped pull together this whimsical evening for her fellow students.
“When I was given the option to work this event or not, I instantly knew I wanted to be a part of it,” Gallian said. “I get to see firsthand just how much work the Office of Student Life puts into making commuter student life more exciting, and I really feel we were able to come together and do that for students tonight. This is just one of the many events that are planned to make life at Liberty more enjoyable for commuter students.”
The plans for this high-end event began in August 2018 and aimed to bring a sense of fellowship and togetherness and delivered just that for Liberty students.
Assistant Director of Graduate Student Life Gretchen Cline praised her students for coming together and serving their fellow classmates with such a beautiful and memorable evening.
“It’s all about building community and developing student leaders,” Cline said. “All of our students had roles to play in this event. Our emcees and musicians and entertainers were all students.”
The evening ended in a raffle for students. Multiple baskets and dinner date packages were given away to winning tickets while all proceeds went towards Miriam’s House, a Lynchburg-based home that advocates for the homeless in the community specifically focusing on families with children.
Second year graduate student Ashley Peterson appreciated the event. Peterson encouraged students to attend the event next year.
“I loved the chance to come out and attend a fancy formal event and really get to know other commuter students,” Peterson said. “I’d encourage students to come out next year because this was such a great way to engage with fellow commuters and experience a really different night on campus and get to be a part of this community.”