Festive feelings and full tummies were the order of the day when two members of Denison’s facilities staff, Christina Black and Silvia Wooton, threw the students of East Hall a holiday lunch party.

“We just love these kids, and we wanted to do something special for them,” said Black, who has been a Denison employee since 2006.

Black and Wooton, (who dressed up for the occasion), provided a lush spread, with pulled chicken and barbeque pork sandwiches for the more than 140 students that live in East Hall. Many of the students are from other countries, and the taste of this particularly American fare was a first for some.

Also a first, the Christmas tree that Black and Wooton put up in the lobby just after Thanksgiving. “I’ve seen how a tree really helps our students relax,” said Black. “They look at the lights and can just be in a different place for a few moments. It’s so nice for them - especially at a stressful time at the end of the year.”

“Christina and Silvia are proof of the genuinely caring people that work here,” said David English, vice president for finance and management. “Mentoring is a part of the fabric of our lives at Denison; from thoughtful staff like these, to faculty who lead and challenge, our students know that we really care about them. This lunch, which Christina and Silvia did completely on their own initiative, is a great example of the level of genuine fondness that springs up between our students and our staff and faculty.”