The holiday spirit is in full swing on college campuses across the nation, and Texas universities are decking the halls with some serious cheer this season. According to a recent ranking by Academic Influence, St. Mary's University, Baylor University, and Texas Tech University are among the top institutions bringing Christmas joy far and wide.
San Antonio's own St. Mary's University landed the No. 10 spot with its beloved Christmas tree lighting and a snow-covered campus that offers a festive atmosphere for alumni and locals alike, with a month-long charity drive that culminated on December 12, gathering toys and food for the needy, as reported by CultureMap San Antonio.
Colleges and universities near and far are injecting end-of-semester life with the spirit of Christmas, where Baylor University shines bright as Texas' top-ranked school for holiday festivity coming in at third place, owing its fame to a roster of holiday events including concerts from its School of Music and the "Christmas on 5th Street" festivity that turns the campus into a wonderland, complete with horse-drawn carriages and a Santa visitation.
Meanwhile, Texas Tech University in Lubbock wraps up their centennial year combining tradition with technology: their Carol of Lights, a spectacle with thousands of lights and a towering Christmas tree, is also billed to feature a drone show this year, capturing the imaginations of over 20,000 attendees and thereby grabbing the No. 7 slot on the list of festive colleges as described by Academic Influence.
It's important to recognize the warm tapestry that these traditions weave into the fabric of campus life, transcending beyond Christian campuses to secular ones, where the emphasis is on community and collective joy throughout the student body, an essential touchstone not just for its inherent cheer but also fostering engagement and goodwill in the season that for many represents peace and giving back.
