A Christmas tree glistens with lights and ornaments on the Raley Chapel stage, with stained glass in the background.
University to Celebrate Christmas, Outstanding Seniors During Hanging of the Green Dec. 7
December 5, 2019
OBU will host the 82nd annual Hanging of the Green Saturday, Dec. 7, at 7:30 p.m. in Raley Chapel’s Potter Auditorium. The program features performances of holiday music by a wide variety of musical groups, as well as special recognition of outstanding seniors.
The first Hanging of the Green ceremony at OBU was held in WMU Memorial Hall. After the singing of carols, representatives from all dormitories lit candles of good will and carried the light to their own houses. The custom of Hanging of the Green has continued, though it moved in 1945 to the newly completed Brittain Hall Library, in 1957 to the University Auditorium, and in 1961 to Raley Chapel.
The program will begin with “Valse Des fleurs” from The Nutcracker, presented by the OBU/Shawnee Community Orchestra.
Following a welcome by OBU Interim President Dr. Pat Taylor, this year’s Hanging of the Green senior honorees will be introduced and will hang wreaths around the perimeter of the auditorium. These outstanding students were nominated and selected by OBU faculty. This year’s honorees include Brady Paul, worship arts, Oklahoma City; Kendra Burch, accounting, Shawnee, Oklahoma; Bryan Geurkink, accounting, Sand Springs, Oklahoma; Hannah Key, management, Oklahoma City; Xu Liu, nursing, Beijing, China; Olivia Klefsaas, finance, Motley, Minnesota; Logan Longshore, criminal justice, Stilwell, Oklahoma; Emily Moore, nursing, Piedmont, Oklahoma; Andrew Joyce, sociology and Spanish, Owasso, Oklahoma; Leslie Lehrmann, mathematics, Anna, Texas; Jonathan Wood, English, Bentonville, Arkansas; Jessica Littleton, mathematics, Sachse, Texas; Pablo Villa, pastoral ministry, Oviedo, Spain; Madi Trammell, music, Possum Kingdom, Texas; Mitchell Manlapig, music, Shawnee; Ivy Penwell, creative writing, Oklahoma City; Caleb Frank, theatre, Shawnee; Madeleine Foster, psychology, Walnut Ridge, Arkansas; Leo Chavez, music education, Mesquite, Texas; and Jana Satzler, family and community service, Oklahoma City.
Following the introduction of the honorees, the Shawnee Honor Choir will sing, “One Christmas Candle.” The Concert Choir will then take the stage, performing, “Noel Nouvelet.” True Voice will follow their performance with “Joy to the World.”
The OBU/Shawnee Community Orchestra will then perform “Alllegro and Pastorale from Concerto Grasso No.8.” The Bisonette Glee Club will take the stage next, singing “Christmas Bells.” They will be followed by a performance from the Bison Glee Club, singing, “While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks.”
The combined choirs and orchestra will then perform, “Fantasia on Christmas Carols for baritone solo, chorus and orchestra.” Dr. Stephen Sims will be the featured baritone soloist. The evening will conclude as the University Chorale sings “O Come, All Ye Faithful.”