Branches of Thankfulness
Located on the windows outside Student Development, in only it’s second year the Thankfulness Tree has become an outlet for students and staff to voice what they are thankful for. Responses range from family, to friends, to coffee. One of the most popular response on the Thankfulness Tree is Resident Director of Sullivan Hall Scott Greenman.
“I don’t know why. I think sometimes they put it up there because they see me from the window,” Greenman says. “I just think it is pretty cool to see my name up there.”
Kelsey Bageant painted the tree in lower level of the McDonald Center, complete with a raccoon inside of the tree. Greenman says the tree is something that should become an annual tradition at USF.
“It is a great way for an individual to see what they are thankful for, and a source of encouragement and positivity,” Greenman says. “It is important to write down things that you are thankful for and see them in writing.”
Greenman says he is thankful his position at USF and the staff with the Cougar Activity Board (CAB) that he works with everyday.
CAB has also provided an incentive for students to voice what they are thankful for by providing students with prizes based on what they wrote. One of the prize winners is USF Senior Jade Roozenboom.
“I wrote down my boyfriend, Caelan as what I am thankful for.” Roozenboom says. “A few days ago I received a $25 gift card to the movie theater here (Sioux Falls) because we love going to the movies together.”
USF Junior Nursing major, Brennan Waltner, says it is good to take Thanksgiving weekend to reflect on what we are thankful for.
“I know it sounds cliche but friends and family, I am so thankful those,” Waltner says. “I can always go to them if I have any problems, and that is always really nice to have.”
As students head home for the holidays, Student Development asks one request of them and that is for students to take to remind themselves what they are thankful for.
Story written by Casey Kelderman | Video edited by Jacob VanEngen & Cordell Wright
