‘Twas the week before finals, and L&S Honors students bundled up to brave the cold climb up Observatory Hill. Their destination? Washburn Observatory, where they gathered to celebrate the end of a successful semester and the coming of a well-deserved break. This final social event, planned by Honors program staff, had two parts: hot chocolate and cookie decorating in the Washburn Library, followed by ice skating at the rink in the Bakke Recreation Center.
Students could choose to attend either or both parts of the event, and most chose to attend both. The windows of Washburn stood warm and well-lit atop the hill on a dark and wintry night, while the students inside filled the space with pleasant chatter and cheer. Some students came with friends they’d already made throughout the semester, and others came on their own and found new ones. After a time of conversation and delicious, delightfully-decorated cookies, the band of students clutched cups of hot chocolate and shuffled through the chilled December air together, filling the better part of the campus bus that took them down Observatory Drive and to the ice rink in the Bakke.
Once at the rink, students gathered at the counter where the Honors program was able to cover admission and skate rentals for everybody. We had a wonderful time on the ice. The full spectrum of skating experience was represented among the group, as everyone from lifelong skaters from Wisconsin and Minnesota to first-timers from Texas and Brazil shared the rink together. They gave each other advice and applauded each other’s efforts, whether they were brave first steps along the wall or seasoned spins on center ice. After many laps and laughs, the students returned their skates and went on their way: feeling a bit more tired, quite a bit warmer, and a bit more connected to their Honors community.
