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THE NIGHT WOODBURN GOT ITS SHINE BACK

Scenes from the rekindling of a WVU tradition

By West Virginia University

December 4^th, 2025

As 8,000 or so lights flashed on for the first time in over a decade on the bricks and towers of Woodburn Hall, it felt like West Virginia University got a piece of its heart back.

Thanks to WVU President Michael T. Benson and the generosity of sponsors Huntington National Bank and Northeast Natural Energy, the annual Woodburn Hall Lighting Ceremony made its glowing return December 2, 2025.

Hundreds of people — students, families, and community members bundled in coats — turned out among the snowy landscape to see the historic campus building shine again.

None were disappointed.

A volunteer from Huntington National Bank passes out cups for hot chocolate at Woodburn Circle.

Students, some wearing festive holiday clothes, pose for a photo as they wait for the lighting of Woodburn Hall.

A member of The Below Zero Quintet, a faculty group from the WVU College of Creative Arts and Media, plays the French horn as the band offered live music for the Woodburn Hall Lighting Ceremony.

Chad Prather, president of Huntington National Bank, provides remarks during the Woodburn Hall Lighting Ceremony.

WVU freshmen Sophie Johnson and Natalie Whitman build a snowman in front of Oglebay Hall while waiting for Woodburn Hall to light up.

Students share a laugh as they await the lighting of Woodburn Hall.

The WVU and Morgantown communities gather at Woodburn Circle to kick off the holiday season.

Kinsey Wolfe, 9, a WVU Medicine Golisano Children’s patient, pushes the button to light up Woodburn Hall as President Michael T. Benson and others react with joy.

“It symbolizes our community. It symbolizes the strength of WVU and all those who embody what it is to be a West Virginian.”

Woodburn Hall lit up in all its glory.

Christy Humphries, a Morgantown resident, smiles while holding her dog and taking a selfie at the Woodburn Hall Lighting Ceremony.

Students snapping photos of Woodburn Hall with their phones.

Hundreds of WVU and Morgantown community members braved the cold to witness the rekindling of a Mountaineer tradition.

Mountaineer mascot Cade Kincaid poses with a young Mountaineer fan in front of a lit-up Woodburn Hall.

Santa Claus joined Kinsey Wolfe (front), a patient at WVU Medicine Golisano Children's Hospital, at the Woodburn Lighting Ceremony. With Kinsey — the official lighter — are her parents, Justin and Sara, and her siblings, Hannah, Cora, and Andrew.

WVU freshmen Sophie Johnson and Natalie Whitman show off their masterpiece snowman they had built before the lighting of Woodburn Hall.

“Like all families, we have traditions within the Mountaineer family and this one is among the brightest.”

A student smiles as she takes a selfie.

Mountaineer mascot Cade Kincaid and his girlfriend, Rachel Burns, smile in front of a lit-up Woodburn Hall.

Santa Claus and WVU President Michael T. Benson.

WVU students Salma Diab, studying sports and adventure media, and Tori McMichael, studying psychology, pose for a photo in front of Woodburn Hall after its lighting.

Learn about the history of this WVU tradition here.

Footnotes

Photos by Jennifer Shephard and Matt Sunday. Video by Hunter Given and David Ryan.

FootNotes

Photos by Jennifer Shephard and Matt Sunday. Video by Hunter Given and David Ryan.

© 2026 West Virginia University

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