A Thanksgiving potluck event was held Nov. 22, 2024, by the Aleshire Center for Student Leadership and Community Engagement members. It was open to all students to grab some food and enjoy themselves with friends before the holiday. 

Taylor Romanchek, senior mass media major, helped in the organization of this event.  

“In Aleshire Potluck, we really wanted to bring students together making it a kind of friends style party but really focusing on blessings and gratefulness, things that have gone well during the school year by bringing people together to enjoy some time, music and some food,” Romanchek said. 

Aleshire gave an early Christmas vibe with its gratitude tree decorated with team members’ sweet Thanksgiving notes as well as a small Christmas tree beside the entrance. 

“We were just thinking about a way to express our thankfulness for what went well or for their hopes that will go well. So, we produced different ideas like a gratitude wall or thankful wall and finally we went with a gratitude tree because we want to leave it up till December so that its useful for both Thanksgiving and Christmas,” said Aaradhya Shah, junior social work major and member of the organization who helped decorate. 

Many students brought their favorite foods to share and attached their notes of memorable experiences and goals on the gratitude wall tree. 

Colton Cattoor, junior psychology major, shared his experience on the event. 

“We are having a potluck so anyone who wanted to bring food or wanted to show up so you can spend time together and chill. We are watching the Square Pumpkin movie as well. It is fun,” Cattoor said. 

There were various food items and people to hang out with. Everyone was busy talking and connecting with friends as well as with new people sharing their holiday plans. 

Edited by Stuti Khadka and Jeremy Ford