by Billy Findley
Copy Editor
While there is much to be said for this year’s Christmas banquet, held Saturday, Dec. 5, the whole of it can be summed up in three words: simple, elegant and outstanding. The senior class SGA [Student Government Association] clearly outdid themselves as the engaging entertainment, succulent dinner and glistening décor not only met guests’ expectations but in a lot of ways surpassed them.
Taking a somewhat different approach to entertainment, the senior class, rather than draw attention to the stage, brought the fun right to the tables as guests partook in a gingerbread house-building competition and an outlandish white elephant gift exchange monitored by senior senators Joseph Maughon and Allison McLean. The decorations, emanating a woodsy atmosphere, consisted of a rather large Christmas tree, several other lighted trees and a swan-shaped ice sculpture. And, to cap the Christmas spirit off, the weather outside was freezing.
According to senior Ben Cunningham, the theme, “Black Tie, White Christmas,” was such that he was not sure at first what to expect. Afterward, he said that of the nine banquets he’s been to as a Bryan student, this one ranked as one of the best.
“It was good, fun and relaxed without going overboard,” Cunningham said, “and the ice sculpture was absolutely amazing.”
The food was not too shabby either. On the contrary, the senior class SGA made having a tasty dinner one of their top priorities, according to Senior Class Vice President Garrett McIntyre. Though he said he was very much pleased with the banquet as a whole, his only disappointment was that SGA had to change the main course from prime rib to roast beef. However, he said he was impressed with everything else and was surprised when he saw Food Services Director A.J. Caudill displaying a flaming skillet on an open stove for the bananas Foster dessert.
“There was a blessed simplicity to this banquet,” freshman Jonathan Warner said. “It was a simple idea but very efficient.”
Warner said he thought the gingerbread house idea was excellent and he enjoyed going around and seeing all the different creations throughout the room.
McIntyre said he attributes much of the success to an atmosphere that was conducive for people to enjoy being with one another.
“Banquets often have an elaborate theme, and it’s lengthy in entertainment and complicated to do,” McIntyre said, “thus, you don’t have as much fun with the people you came with.”
While guests’ attention was not primarily on stage, there were several musicians providing jazzy background music including senior Phillip Kohler and freshman Kelly Findley on piano, senior Beau Boutwell on electric bass, junior Josh Jones on drums and senior Timmy Sunday and juniors Elise Bacon and Jason Hundley with vocals. McIntyre said he estimates about 70-80 people, both SGA and non-SGA members, assisted in helping set up the banquet and break it down when it was over. He said he most grateful for the time and effort everybody put into it.