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The Yankee Express

Nichols College rings in the season of joy and giving with Light up the Hill

Dec 15, 2021 02:36PM ● By Chuck Tashjian
DUDLEY – The Nichols College campus and local communities gathered for the first Light up the Hill on Thursday, December 2, to celebrate the holidays with a new tradition. 
Nichols President Glenn Sulmasy and his wife Marla led hundreds of students, faculty, staff, family members and neighbors in singing carols at the college green wearing Nichols beanie caps. The group then paraded to Copper Quad, where they counted down the seconds on a tree and menorah lighting, enjoyed hot cocoa, made photo ornaments, and warmed up near firepits. The Nichols bison mascot, Thunder, was on hand to spread holiday cheer.

 

The event was also an opportunity to support the Blessed Backpack Brigade, an organization based in the Dudley/Webster area that assists the homeless, unemployed, elderly, impoverished, veterans, and others. Collection bins were filled with much-needed items such as winter coats, gloves, hats, socks, hand warmers, toiletries, and non-perishable food items. The donations will be distributed locally among the needy. 

 

Kate Joseph, vice president of Blessed Backpack Brigade, was amazed at the turnout. “We are beyond grateful to President Sulmasy, First Lady Marla Sulmasy, graduate assistant Cari Cyr, and the entire Nichols community for the opportunity to be a part of the inaugural Light up the Hill event,” she said. “We had a wonderful time caroling, enjoying hot cocoa, and taking photos in front of the tree with Thunder. We were truly taken aback by the generosity that we witnessed -- because of our Bison friends, we will now be able to provide many clients with crucial wish list items to help them brave the cold winter months. It means a great deal to us, and even more to those we will help because of you. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts!”