Unity In Lights 2025
LU ONE, in partnership with the the Studio and Digital Arts and Family and Consumer Sciences, presents the 2025 Unity in Lights art installation competition, a celebration of biblical unity and the message of Christ. The event featured impactful Christmas tree art installations created by talented students artists. This year, each student team represented a different school at Liberty University, expressing that school’s unique contribution to biblical unity through their design. The participating schools were the School of Divinity, Helms School of Government, School of Nursing, School of Aeronautics, School of Law, School of Communication & the Arts, School of Education, School of Family & Consumer Sciences, and the School of Music. Unity in Lights reminds us every December that unity is not something you talk about once. It is something you practice, something you build, something you create together.
2025 Unity in Lights Winners!
1st PLACE TREE: School of Law
Kelvin Beriguete & Caleb Lewis
Art Brief: The Justice system is a shadow of the spiritual reality of good vs evil, the guilty vs the innocent, who will all answer to God the Father. God the Father is represented by a Fierce Lion who is in Heaven, ready to judge the earth and pour out wrath. Eyes of fire and the Father of lights. Gold Scale of Justice combined with an hourglass: God the Father weighs the heart and time is in His hand. The cross on outweighs our wrongs. White box represents Jesus according to John 3:16. He died to atone for our sins so the red ribbon represents His blood that ascends to the Father. We are forgiven our sins and granted eternal life because of our faith in the work of His Son.
Further Symbolism Black box: sinners, darkness, fallen world – Gold: Justice, refinement, righteousness, Sovereignty – Gold wolves: sheep among wolves – Gold Sand bottles: Promise to Abraham that his descendants will outnumber the sand on the seashore – Gold hearts: refined hearts – White: Purity, Innocence, righteousness, new life – White Snowflakes: Washed white as snow – Rose of Sharon sprinkled in red: Jesus atoning work – White animals/ gold saddle: ridden by Jesus – White & Gold Wool garland: Sheep with Gold – Pearls: The kingdom of heaven; the good news
2nd PLACE TREE: School of Communications and the Arts
Katrina McMillen & Suyen Lau
Art Brief: We were tasked with creating a tree that represented the School of Communications and the Arts, LU Students, and God’s will for us. So we based our concept of two verses, Matthew 5:14-16 and John 17:21-23. Quite literally, Unity in Light. So, taking the idea of a light upon hill, we put the tree on risers and added over 2000 bulbs. The hand painted ornaments represents the 5 departments in the School of Communications and the Arts. The signature mirror ornaments represents you and how you reflect God’s glory, please sign one and hang it on the tree. Although we each have many different talents, we can find unity in the light we shine upon others. Fun fact! The greek word for “lights” means of divine glory or of one whose truth shines forth, and “the world” in greek means order or ornament, you are an ornament whom truth shines forth
3rd PLACE TREE: School of Aeronautics
Kalie Baker & Charlotte Sandow
Art Brief: The idea for our tree came from the ideas of birds, flight, and the sky itself. The School of Aeronautics focuses heavily on the concept of lifting others up, and a strong tie to missions through aeronautics.
We chose blue and gold as our primary colors to indicate sky and the light provided when we work in missions. There are a variety of different birds placed on the tree, as well as in the small, clear ornaments. We wanted to not only explain the concept of ‘Lift’ with the birds, but also the unity in diversity with the different types of birds that still work cohesively together on the tree. In the story of Noah, the birds were the messengers who helped Noah know when the waters had departed. The birds we added to the tree are a small tie to the missions we are called to as Christians. For the large, clear ornaments, we chose to add angels to further represent the missions side of the School of Aeronautics. The angels are messengers of God, bringing the good news to people. Likewise, we, as Christians, are called to be messengers and to spread the good news of Jesus Christ to those around us.
Our tree focuses on lift, birds in flight, and the importance of missions and our role as messengers to the rest of the world. God freely gives the best gift anyone could receive, and our job is to tell the world about it by lifting others up and showing them the love of God. The beauty of all of this is that we are all unique. We all have different strengths and weaknesses, and none of us can do this alone. Our diversity is what allows us to be united in one goal of sharing the gospel with the nations and bringing one another together in the single, united body of Christ. When we put God in His place as the leader in our lives, we are able to do great things in His name.
Honorable Mentions
Coming Soon!
Congratulations and Thank You to Our Unity in Lights Artists!
To all the talented student artists who contributed to our second annual Unity in Lights, congratulations on the incredible impact of your work! Your creativity and dedication brought to life stunning art installations that beautifully embodied biblical unity and celebrated the hope Christ brought to the world. These illuminated expressions have not only captivated the LU community but also deepened our understanding of the biblical Christmas message.
Liberty University Executive Leadership extends their heartfelt gratitude and recognition for your artistry and effort. Your work has created a space for reflection, joy, and connection during this season, leaving a lasting impression on everyone who experienced the display.
Thank you for making Unity in Lights a beacon of hope and togetherness on our campus!
Location and Hours
Main Office: Green Hall 1569
LU One Lounge: Montview Student Union 2760
Monday – Friday: 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Emergency Contact Information (LUPD)
LUPD Emergency: (434) 592-3911
LUPD Non-Emergency: (434) 592-7641