USU students get creative decorating trees for service

By: Mandi West

The Festival of Trees started at 4 p.m. today at Utah State University in the Taggart Student Center. Clubs and organizations at USU decorate trees that will go to families in need.

This year the festival has 55 trees set up in the International Lounge. Each club can decorate a tree to represent it.

The Festival of Trees has been a tradition at the school for awhile. Students have an opportunity to come together and participate in a creative service project. Zoe Fairbairn, the USU-SA traditions director, is in charge of the event this year and is excited to see it happen.

“I have been really excited for the event,” Fairbairn said. “It is always so exciting to see the creative ways the organizations decorate the trees. I’m already loving the western themed tree that has branding blocks in it.”

Each tree is unique to the clubs. One tree had socks in it and another tree used hats to decorate it. Cameron Olsen, the president of the Pre-Optometry Club, told how they had plans to really get their tree to stand out.

“We wanted ours to be a real eye catcher,” Olsen said. “We wanted to put chocolate eyeballs all over with glasses in it. We thought everyone could get a kick out of it.”

Once all the trees are decorated the public has an opportunity to vote for a favorite tree on Tuesday and Wednesday. The winner of that vote will get $100. A contest will also be held that will judge the trees for creativity, originality and overall appearance.

The public has an opportunity to come look at the trees until Friday.

“It is a great activity for families, dates and friends,” Fairbairn said. “There is no better way to get into the Christmas spirit than to give service.”