News & Events

UNC Asheville to Host Holiday Party for 108 Head Start Youngsters

November 30, 2011

UNC Asheville will host its annual Head Start Holiday Party from 10:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 6, in the Highsmith University Union, Alumni Hall, on the campus. Donated gifts are already wrapped and individually labeled for the 108 preschoolers in the Pisgah View and Barnardsville Head Start centers who are expected to attend.

Last year’s party had to be canceled due to hazardous driving conditions, and gifts were delivered to the Head Start students at a later date. But presuming the weather allows this year’s renewal to proceed, it will be full of joy and energy, with dancing, drumming, singing, food, and Charles James, associate professor of Chemistry, making his annual appearance as Santa Claus.

UNC Asheville Teaching Fellows and party coordinators Kelsey Cain and Hannah Van Cott have recruited entertainers, volunteers, and donations of gifts from all over campus. Performing at the party will be: UNC Asheville’s step team, N.U.E. Noiz; the student a cappella group, The Fortissimamas; and an African drumming ensemble led by Agya Boakye-Boaten, assistant professor and director of Africana Studies. Lunch for the party will be donated by the UNC Asheville Office of Student Affairs.

Altogether, some 75 UNC Asheville students will participate as volunteers. Among the campus organizations helping out in some capacity are the Teaching Fellows, the women’s basketball team, all four campus Greek organizations, the Student Alumni Association and the Resident Student Association. All 20 members of Alpha Sigma Phi will volunteer.

For more information, please contact UNC Asheville News Services at 828.251.6526.