College kicks-off holiday season with Christmas event
Derek Sandoval, vice president of administrative services who served as master of ceremonies for the evening thanked everyone for showing their support and commented on the success of the event.
Highlighting the evening’s festivities was the arrival of Santa Claus in a short parade with the participation of the college rodeo team, college law enforcement academy, The Good Eggs, Uvalde Volunteer Fire Department, Uvalde County 4H Club, La Pryor High School Band, Uvalde High School Band, SWTJC daycare students, the cosmetology club and staff, and Mr. and Mrs. Santa Clause and his elves along with Rudolf the Red Nosed Reindeer and Frosty the Snow Man..
Before the parade and tree
Gonzales commended the numerous individuals who contributed to decorating the campus. College employee JJ Suarez and his family received special recognition during the evening’s festivities. Suarez was honored for devoting countless hours in preparing the campus for the event.
Santa was available throughout the evening for pictures; an estimated 850 children and adults took pictures with Santa Claus. Photos with Santa will be available for download at swtjc.edu at no cost.
Musical entertainment was provided by Flores School Choir, Knippa School Choir, La Pryor High School Band, Robb Elementary School Choir, Robert Perez of La Pryor, Sacred Heart School Choir, St. Philips School Choir, SWTJC Mariachi, Uvalde Classical Academy Choir, and Uvalde High School Mariachi.
Schools received a $200 donation from Southwest Texas Junior College as a token of appreciation for taking time to participate in the college event.
Shortly after the choir performances “Las Posadas” began, but not before Sandoval gave a brief description of the significance of the Christmas tradition.
The Las Posadas procession began in front of the Rodolfo R. & Dolores Flores Student Services Building and followed a route through the SWTJC campus, which ended at the MSC Ballroom for a dinner of tamales, rice, beans, and desserts. Children were treated to piñatas as part of the celebration.