Seaver College Hosts Annual Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony

On Friday, December 1, Seaver College hosted its annual Christmas tree lighting ceremony, convening 800 members of the campus community to celebrate the holiday season with song, snow, and seasonal treats. 

“The heart of this ceremony is the celebration of the birth of Christ as a community,” says Danielle Minke, Seaver College’s director of student activities. “Annually, this program draws people from all over to witness the spectacle of lights and experience a shared joy for the holiday season.”

In preparation for the event, a 31-foot pine tree was placed in the center of Seaver College’s Mullin Town Square. Nestled around this giant tree, the community launched into the Christmas season singing carols led by the Waves Worship team and Won by One, Pepperdine’s six-member a cappella performing group. Afterward, the campus chaplain, Sarah Barton, offered a devotional message, while Hung Le, Pepperdine’s senior vice chancellor for alumni affairs, prayed over the event. Helena Mekuanint, a junior at Seaver College, concluded the formal ceremony with a reading from scripture. 

“We intentionally include at least one faculty member, one staff member, and one student in the program to represent our campus because we want all of our community to feel welcome at the event,” says Minke. “I hope that everyone who attended got a sense for how important we all are to the community and how special it is to gather together to celebrate Christ's birth.”

Following the ceremony, the start of the holiday season was officially announced with the lighting of the Christmas tree. The campus celebrated the occasion by enjoying a “winter wonderland” that was spread around campus. Artificial snow drifted throughout the Malibu night as those in attendance enjoyed live student performances, popcorn, churros, hot beverages, and a cookie-decorating booth. 

The Christmas tree lighting ceremony has been held at Seaver College since 2009. Over the last decade, the event has become a beloved tradition that gathers together the greater Pepperdine community in anticipation of the holidays. 

This year, a total of 2,000 white lights and 400 ornaments were placed on the giant pine standing in Mullin Town Square.