UTB-TSC tree lighting ceremony Tuesday

More than 13,000 bulbs will blaze bright Tuesday night at the third annual Christmas Tree Lightening Ceremony put on by the University of Texas at Brownsville and Texas Southmost College.

Decked out in university decorum, the 20-foot pine tree towers over El Grand Salon inside of the university’s Student Union. The ceremony will begin at 6:30 p.m. at the Union and is open to everyone in the community.

"There are students who do not get to go home for Christmas or the holidays. There are students here in Brownsville who do not have a tree. There are some children whose parents can’t provide a tree," said Patricia Longoria, assistant director of the Student Union Office. "I see this as an opportunity for the university community to give back and also to unite and enjoy the holiday season."

More than 90 people are expected to attend the event, which will be hosted by the Student Union Office in collaboration with the Office of Student Life, Longoria said.

Ceremony organizers also held an ornament competition for university offices and student organizations, and winners will have the honor of illuminating the tree.

Employees at the Office News and Information worked on brainstorming and building their ornament for the last two weeks. They cut out clippings of some of the university’s biggest news stories this year and stuck them with mod podge to a wooden box painted as a present, said Amy Lynch, assistant director of news and information for the office.

"It was a fun," she said. "It was a nice respite from the daily work, but it is also a way to bring the university together for the holidays and to showcase your department in the different way."

At the event, hot chocolate, pan dulce and holiday cookies will be served along with other light refreshments and snacks. The evening will also include performances by the Catholic Campus Ministry, Mariachi Escorpion and the Rio Grande Diocesan Chamber Choir.

Event organizers also for the first time invited third and fourth graders from Longoria Elementary to sing some of the holiday songs they have been practicing for the school’s winter play.