MONACA, Pa. — Elves, gingerbread, reindeer and more are adorning the doors of offices at Penn State Beaver.
It’s the campus’ fourth annual holiday door decorating contest to spread some cheer and support the United Way of Beaver County.
Each year faculty and staff choose a theme for their door and get creative. The campus votes on a winner by dropping spare change or dollars into donation buckets at each office. This year the campus added a “Student’s Choice” category that allows students to pick their favorite door.
Students even got in on the decorating fun this year.
The Center for Academic Achievement’s theme is “Awkward Peer Mentor Family Photos.” The students dressed alike and posed for photos that truly fit the theme.
Peer mentors help new students navigate the process of registering for classes and adjusting to college life.
“The peer mentors have really bonded over the semester,” Kristin Oberg, learning center and disabilities coordinator, said. “They were happy to do something silly for a good cause. They were willing to not try to look cool and look their best, but they really wanted to go for the laughs, and they were all in. We had a lot of fun taking those ridiculous pictures.”
The United Way has been designated as Penn State’s charity of choice for nearly five decades. In Beaver County, the United Way supports 17 non-profit member agencies which provide for the human needs of the community.