Winter Gala to be Held

The Cardinals Activities Board will be hosting the Winter Gala on January 25 from 7-11 p.m. in the Live Oak Ballroom, located in the Setzer Student Center. Spots for this event are limited, and 275 free tickets will become available at 6 p.m. on December 9. These tickets can be found on LUHub and are first come- first serve.

“This event is far more formal than any other event that CAB usually hosts,” Hayden Jackson, Coordinator for Student E ngagement, said.

“Our students realized that many students want an event where they can dress up and still have fun.” Alongside having the opportunity to dress up, CAB will be hosting a competition for the best-dressed attendees of the night.

“Each student will have the opportunity to win our best-dressed competition, Unlike most award races, such as the homecoming court, where you must be nominated, every student will automatically be entered into the competition simply by attending.”

The best-dressed competition is not the only activity at the gala, however. Students will also get a red carpet and paparazzi experience, refreshments, and a night of dancing.

“Upon arrival, students will be greeted by the paparazzi as they walk down the red carpet,” Jackson said. “They will pause in front of the backdrop to get their official photo for the competition. They will then enter the ballroom, where they can mingle with other guests and enjoy refreshments.”

Alongside, dancing and the paparazzi, there will be other photo locations and a 360 phgoto booth. All of these activities and the gala itself were brought up by students on staff with CAB.

“The students realized that CAB has never offered an event of this level that is more formal in nature, and they wanted to provide that for their community,” Jackson said. “It was an idea that lit up the students’ eyes, and you could see the excitement it brought to each one of them.”

Not only did students come up with the general ideas, but they will be working that night to employ those ideas at the gala.

“The planning is coming together pretty well,” Dickmu Fanwi Patience, graduate student and CAB event officer, said. “The ideas we have in mind are just amazing. I just cannot wait for us to bring those ideas to reality.”

While this event is put on by CAB as a whole, they have split into groups to better focus on each aspect of the gala in detail.

“CAB has divided into three subcommittees to focus on specific areas: food, marketing and logistics, and decor,” Jackson said. “The students have crafted the marketing strategy, designed the layout of the event and the space. All of the decor was envisioned and put together by the students. They have risen to the challenge of creating this event, and I am very excited to see it all come together."

Students wishing for more information can email hjackson@lamar.edu or visit CAB's Instagram, @lamarucab.

Flyer from CAB