Arcadia University hosted the second annual Get Lit celebration on Monday, Dec. 2, to bring the community together and unwind before the end of the fall semester. Hundreds of students, faculty, and staff joined Arcadia University President Ajay Nair as he kicked off the festivities by flipping the switch to illuminate several trees in Lot 10.

“Get Lit is about keeping the light burning inside, through the winter, through your finals, and through everything,” said Director of Student Engagement Christine Storch just before President Nair lit up the campus. “We are here for you, we love you, and we’re here to celebrate together.” 

Sprawling out from the Spruance Art Center, the event featured activities like ice skating, a gingerbread house competition, bracelet making, raffles, an art market, bumper cars in Lot 10, a petting zoo by the Kuch Center, winter bingo in the Commons Great Room, food trucks, fire pits, and more.

“I heard that there was ice skating here so I was hoping to do that,” said Monica Gomez ’27, who transferred to Arcadia and attended Get Lit for the first time. “I like that this event brings people together; it’s great for students to come out and hang out with other students.”

On the other side of Spruance where students were dancing and listening to music, Chase Kasarda ’26 won one of the many raffle prizes announced throughout the night. 

“I really like supporting our artists and checking out their work,” she explained. “The people involved who always bring a good vibe make this event special.”

Jamai Vann ’28 shared that sentiment with her peers while waiting in line for the Greek Street food truck. 

“I like being able to connect with my friends, eat food, connect, and laugh together,” Vann said. “It’s great, especially during finals, to have something where we can take a break and relax.”

This year’s Get Lit event was billed as the kickoff to University Advancement’s UKnighted Tuesday campaign, which will run through Dec. 4. At the event, Storch mentioned that two trustees, Susan Saxer ’71 and Board Chair John Rollins, made five-figure gifts to the University in support of continuing events and traditions like Get Lit that bring the community together.