Northwest celebrates holiday season during annual tree lighting ceremony

The Northwest Missouri State University community ushered in the holiday season during its annual President’s Tree Lighting Tuesday night at the Thomas Gaunt House.

Jill and Dr. Lance Tatum (Photos by Lauren Adams/Northwest Missouri State University)

Elizabeth Motazedi

Hosted by Northwest President Dr. Lance Tatum and first lady Jill Tatum, the program featured remarks from Elizabeth Motazedi, who serves as the University’s student regent and president of the Student Senate; Jeremy Cobb, pastor of the Christian Campus House; and Maryville Mayor Pro-Tem Dannen Merrill as well as music performances by the Madraliers and the Horace Mann Laboratory School choir.

Reflecting on her journey at Northwest, Motazedi, a senior from Joplin, Missouri, who is majoring in social studies-history education, recalled the experience of moving from her hometown to Maryville to attend the University.

“Yet as I stand here tonight surrounded by this Bearcat family, I can't help but feel an overwhelming sense of gratitude,” she said. “Northwest has become more than just a place of education for me. It’s a community and a place where my heart will always belong. As I near graduation, this place will always be my second family and many students will say the same.

“This holiday season, let’s celebrate not only the festivities but the spirit that defines Northwest. Each one of us, students, faculty, family, friends, and staff, contribute to the vibrant community that is our Bearcat family. It's the camaraderie, the shared laughter, and the support we lend to each other that make Northwest truly a special place.”

After the tree-lighting ceremony, attendees gathered on the Gaunt House patio for refreshments and photo opportunities with Santa Claus and Bobby Bearcat.

A tradition at Northwest for more than a decade, the ceremony returned to the Gaunt House this year after occurring at the Memorial Bell Tower since 2019. The home, located on Fourth Street at the south edge of the University campus, was built during the 1870s and added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1979. It has served as the residence for all Northwest presidents.

The Madraliers sang after Bobby Bearcat turned a switch to light a Christmas tree Tuesday night on the lawn of the Thomas Gaunt House.