By Gionna Bean, Opinion Editor
As classes at Aquinas neared their final meetings before Thanksgiving break, Wege held its annual Thanksgiving celebration on Thursday, Nov. 20 from 5 – 7 p.m.
The majority of campus was excited for Wege Thanksgiving, as shown by the line that started outside the doors before 5 p.m. even hit.
Alyssa Hoff, retail manager for creative dining services, was certainly excited after assisting in planning the event. Hoff posted an announcement the day of to invite students to join.
“Everyone is invited,” said Hoff in the Instagram reel. “Come on down, eat some pie with us. Maybe win a cool prize. It’s going to be a great night and I’m so excited to see you there.”
Students on meal plans were able to use meal swipes; however, even those without meal plans were able to get in free with a student ID through support from the Student Activities Office (SAO).
The dining hall was decked out in fall colors of red, orange, yellow and brown with tablecloths on each table and decorative turkeys and foliage to create a festive atmosphere.
Students gather for Wege Thanksgiving – Photo by AQ Dining
The evening was filled with laughter and plenty of food. Turkey, ham, stuffing, green bean casserole and more were served. Pie was offered at the salad table with whipped cream for dessert.
“I thought the food was great, and I loved spending time with everyone,” said junior Scott Hopkins.
One of the most anticipated parts of the night was the raffle put on by AQ Dining Services. The number one prize was a pair of Apple AirPods and the second place prize was a Nintendo Switch. Tickets were given per entry at the beginning of the evening, and winners were called at 6 p.m.
After an hour of anticipation, freshman Alaina Jaye was announced as the winner of the Apple AirPods, and senior Mallory Huhn won the Nintendo Switch.
“It was so exciting that I won,” said Jaye. “Myca [her friend] was holding on to both of our tickets, so it was funny that it was mine that was the winner. The food was pretty good. It was hard to find a space to sit with how crowded it was but it was definitely worth it to stay for the raffle.”
Mallory Huhn and Alaina Jaye pose with their prizes – Photo by AQ Dining
The event wrapped up soon after winners were announced. Each year is a little different in the food and prizes offered, but every year of Wege Thanksgiving gives an opportunity for all— off and on-campus— to enjoy a night of togetherness.
The Saint 