Telegraph photo by ADAM URQUHART Nashua School District students join Mayor Jim Donchess and Nashua Community College President Lucille Jordan on Thursday morning in the City Hall lobby to help celebrate the mayor’s Christmas tree lighting.

NASHUA – It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas at Nashua City Hall after elementary school children helped hang ornaments during a Christmas tree lighting celebration on Thursday.

This year’s theme showcases Nashua Community College’s upcoming 50th anniversary next year. College President Lucille Jordan describes it as a hub for Nashua, with various groups reaching out to the college as a resource.

Jordan has been with the school for 25 of the 50 years it has been in operation. She said there are now about 2,000 students, with about 50% being male and 50% being female.

“We are so proud and honored because it’s our hope that each one of these kids – they’ll be at Nashua Community College,” Jordan said. “Ten to 12 years from now, we’re going to see them and to know that they’re part of this, I think for us, means a great deal.”

College officials teamed up with 21st Century Extended Day program, which is the school district’s after-school program, to design and decorate the tree. Moreover, while students in grades 6-8 from the Fairgrounds Middle School Concert Choir sang various carols, led by Director Mary Pispitsos, students in grades 1-5 eagerly awaited their opportunity to grab ornaments to hang on the tree.

Mayor Jim Donchess also assisted the students in reaching some of the higher tree branches.

A special tree topper rests at the top of the tree. Students from the after-school program designed it at the college’s Precision Manufacturing Department’s machine tool lab. These students even got to take a tour and see that topper get 3D printed.

The after-school program students are part of the 21st Century Extended Day Program. Gail Casey is the program director and said all the ornaments for the tree were handmade by students involved in the program.

“The students who have been selected to attend are part of the Youth Advisory Board at each of their schools, which is a peer-elected form of governance for after school,” Casey said. “They’re excited to be here because they’re excited to meet the mayor because they had to go through campaigning for their own positions, and they just got elected.”

“I think it looks great,” Donchess said of the tree. “This is one of the most fun things all year long because we have the choir from Fairgrounds Middle School, as well as all the elementary kids, and I think it’s a wonderful day.”

Adam Urquhart may be contacted at 594-1206, or at aurquhart@nashuatelegraph.com.

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