Every year, Elon University’s Festival of Lights and Luminaries transforms Elon’s campus into a bright community celebration, earning it this year’s title of “Best University Tradition.” Organized by the Truitt Center for Religious and Spiritual Life, the festival features thousands of luminaries, live music, treats and activities that bring students, faculty and residents together. 

Junior Emily Menjivar said she appreciates how the event offers a chance to unwind. 

“One of the reasons why I like the event is that I get to go with my friends and just take a mental break from worrying about finals,” Menjivar said. 

She also enjoyed the event’s unique elements, such as the floating lanterns people could personalize with messages. 

For freshman Peyton Shaw, the festival is an opportunity to create new traditions with friends while away from home during the holidays. 

“Since my mom won’t be here, I’ll be spending it with my friends, and I’m really excited for us to look around at the lights and maybe get some hot chocolate and apple cider,” Shaw said. 

Shaw said events like the Festival of Lights and Luminaries are important during the busy finals season as it allows students to take a break from studying and spend time with friends. 

“I think this is a good way to get some stuff off your mind and just enjoy Elon for what it is,” Shaw said. 

Runner up: Acorn and Oak Sapling

“The first day I had my event, I saw people that bought one pizza and then would come back and get more. And that’s when I knew, OK, I should really start doing this.”

This moment was when senior Vince Freddo realized the potential success of his self-owned pizza-making business, Papa Freddough’s Pizza. 

Freddo began his pizza business his sophomore year at Elon University and it has expanded to a large customer base. He can be found almost every Saturday set up at a party and spends his summers catering from his home in Boston. 

Freddo said his love of pizza started with his family in his hometown. 

“My family has two pizza restaurants in Boston, so I’ve been doing pizza for seven, eight years,” Freddo said. 

In the beginning, Freddo’s business was nothing more than making pizza in his apartment and sharing it with friends and neighboring residents. 

“I registered my LLC as a sophomore, and then I started posting on my Instagram and getting more texts to come to parties and events on the weekend,” Freddo said. “And that’s really how it grew.”

Now as a senior, Freddo said his business is in high demand. His set up — consisting of a tent, mobile pizza ovens, tables and everything needed to serve the pizzas — is often found at sorority and fraternity parties. 

“It’s grown from me hitting people up and trying to connect with students, to them texting me or emailing me and asking me to do events for them months in advance,” Freddo said. 

Getting to be up close and personal with his customers is his favorite part of working events Freddo said. 

“Not a lot of business owners get to have this be right with the people,” Freddo said. “Usually they’re in the back of the kitchen and making the food and stuff like that, but I think having a mobile pizza unit that I have, it’s pretty cool.” 

In terms of pizza options, Freddo said his favorites always include hot honey. 

“My go to is usually bacon or sausage somewhere around that realm, with a hot honey drizzle on top,” Freddo said. “I love that. That’s my thing.” 

After graduating in the spring, Freddo said he plans to dive head first into Papa Freddough’s, including starting a petition to establish a location on Elon’s campus. 

People looking to hire Freddo can contact him by messaging his Instagram account @papa.freddoughs. 

Runner up: Uweraring

Elon Dining and Harvest Table Culinary Group have had a partnership with ReusePass to provide reusable to-go boxes at Elon dining locations since the start of the 2023-24 academic year. Students and staff can sign up for ReusePass, which is used on 64 college campuses across the country with their Elon credentials. A mobile QR code allows to-go boxes to be checked out for three days. Multiple to-go boxes can be checked out at once, while previously they were traded for a carabiner to check out and needed to be returned to check out another box.

Harvest Table Culinary Group Sustainability Coordinator Leslie Bosse said the process is designed to be easy for students to reduce food waste and promote sustainability.

“ReusePass has really upgraded our green to-go system to be even more convenient,” Bosse said. “You almost always have your phone, so you almost always have your ReusePass.”

Billy D’s Fried Chicken and Village Juice and Kitchen have recently been added to the list of locations where the boxes are available, which was previously limited to McEwen, Lakeside and Clohan dining halls. Bosse said this was decided because of high levels of use of ReusePass to-go boxes.

“As the popularity of green boxes in retail (locations) grow, we would love to continue to expand this initiative,” Bosse said. “We are always thinking about what we can do to increase our sustainability in the future.”

According to ReusePass, Elon University saved 1,620 pounds of waste from going to landfills in 2024, as well as saved 11,696 gallons of water and 12,211 pounds of GHG CO2e, or Greenhouse Gas Carbon Dioxide Equivalent.

Bosse said ReusePass allows Elon Dining to collect data on the environmental impact through the number of box check-outs.

“It helps us to ensure that our program is as sustainable as possible,” Bosse said.

Runner up: Locally grown produce at Elon dining locations

From Mississippi to Elon to Nashville, Thistle Ridge Band has been spreading the sound of its music. Named after founder and Elon senior Lucas McKeown’s grandfather’s farm, the band has changed in members, performance spaces and genres over the years. Elon senior Nicole Bazos was the band’s audio engineer her freshman year before joining as a vocalist and pianist, and she’s seen many versions of the band. But they’ve kept the same mission for years —playing sets where every person in the audience will like something.

“What’s cool about the band is that when we choose covers, we all get a say in it, so it kind of makes our set list all over the place,” Bazos said. “It’s good, because it’s something for everyone.”

Along with covers ranging from pop to classic rock to country, Thistle Ridge Band’s original songs fall into the indie folk genre. Bazos said leaning into country is something unique about them as a band at Elon.

“We play Luke Combs, Morgan Wallen, like country country, and that’s kind of something that sets us apart,” Bazos said. “If you hear someone playing Johnny Cash, they’re typically like, that’s probably Thistle Ridge. They just already know, which is cool.”

With McKeown, Cole Campbell and Justin Lanzalotti on guitar, Elon senior Julian Brown on bass, Elon sophomore Nick Fauza on drums and Bazos on piano, the band has an uncommon element — they are all singers.

“Everyone will sing a song, or we’ll all do the harmonies together,” Bazos said. “I feel like that fills out the sound more than just having one or two vocalists.”

Its gigs and performances at Elon have included The Fat Frogg Bar and Grill, The Oak House, parties, and philanthropy events for Greek organizations.

“We play like three shows a week, so it never ends,” Bazos said. “It’s a lot, but it’s not that hard to balance it, because it’s how I would want to be spending my free time anyway.”

Thistle Ridge Band performed at The Last Laugh, a student stand-up comedy event hosted by Elon Student Television on Dec. 5.

“It felt like SNL when they panned to the band,” Bazos said. “That was super cool.”

Bazos said she and McKeown are moving to Nashville together after graduation.

“We’re going to try to keep it together in some capacity,” Bazos said. “We’re going to try to get shows in Nashville, write a ton of songs, and play in the real world.”

Bazos said her favorite part of it is having best friends who are just as into music as she is.

“That’s hard to find,” Bazos said. “Just being able to play and sing every weekend and get paid for it is ridiculous too, because I never imagined that would happen.”

Thistle Ridge Band released an EP entitled “I Hope You Know” in June, available to stream on Spotify, Apple Music, iTunes, Deezer and iHeartRadio.

Runner up: Yards Davis

Established in 1991, Elon’s Finest is rounding out its 33rd year on campus by winning this year’s “Best Performance Group” by the Elon community. President of Elon’s Finest and senior Uwera Izabayo said she’s honored her organization has been selected to win this recognition.

“There’s so many great orgs on campus, so to be recognized as one of the best is just awesome,” Izabayo said. 

Izabayo has been a part of Elon’s Finest since her freshman year. What Izabayo loves most about Elon’s Finest is the variety of skill each member brings to the team. 

“Everyone’s really talented,” Izabayo said. “It’s just been a really great community of dancers and friends to be a part of.”

Elon’s Finest has two annual showcases, along with other performances for various philanthropy events. But Izabayo said her favorite performance throughout her time with Elon’s Finest was her first choreographed performance her freshman year in the spring semester.

“The first time I ever choreographed anything for that big of a group and to perform it to that big of an audience,” Izabayo said. “And so that was really cool to see.”

Izabayo said she looks forward to the future of Elon’s Finest and what they have to offer.

“I think the team just gets better every year, honestly, we’ve had new people that we’ve had join who are really talented,” Izabayo said. “Everyone’s dances are really unique, and so that is super fun to see — that creativity.

Runner up: Melanated Melodies

With over 20 Living Learning Communities that campus offers, the Communications LLC was voted the best LLC in 2025, following its win in 2024. This LLC is located on the first floor of Sloan residential hall in the historic neighborhood, nearby the McEwen Dining Hall, McEwen Communications building and the Schar Communications building. 

Freshman Grace Heffley applied to the LLC to bond and meet people with similar interests, most notably Elon’s Communication fellows. 

“We would be in a lot of the same classes and I thought it would be a great way to bond and make friends,” Heffley said. 

Throughout their time at the LLC, students often spend time together through different events such dinners, movies, s’more making and even game nights. 

Some of Heffley’s favorite moments center around the social connections she’s made. 

“Since living in the Communications LLC, my favorite experience has been bonding with the people on my floor whether it be through events organized for the LLC or just hanging out with everyone in people’s dorm rooms,” Heffley said.

Runner up: African Diaspora

The Inman Admissions Building was voted as having 2025’s best bathroom on Elon University’s campus. The building, with its ornamentation and vaulted ceilings, makes a strong impression. The bathrooms follow suit. The restrooms stand out for their sophisticated impression. They are kept at a high standard of cleanliness for the visiting families and prospective students who pass through. 

More prize winning aspects of the bathroom include universal bathrooms and marble countertops, the bathroom has a stately entrance, featuring a carved door surrounded by glass panels. The regal atmosphere is topped off by Febreeze and gold-colored stalls.

The Inman Admissions Welcome Center opened its doors in 2015, making it newer than many of Elon’s developments. The bathrooms are speckless as a result of the recent construction. The stalls are silent and unperturbed.

Runner up: Moseley First Floor

Out of three dining halls and six retail locations that serve breakfast, McEwen Dining Hall was voted Best On-Campus Breakfast. With various entree dishes and grab-and-go food, McEwen has something for everyone. 

Located in the heart of Historic Neighborhood next to Sloan, Virginia and West residence halls, freshman Honey Fields said she likes the community and the environment inside. 

“I think this is the dining hall that has the best family feeling,” Fields said. 

A popular breakfast plate is located straight from the entrance– scrambled eggs, a protein like sausage or bacon, and a potato, like hashbrowns or home fries. Another breakfast option is the yogurt bar with many fruit and topping options, which Fields said is her favorite part of the morning. 

“I get the same thing every morning. I get the chia seed pudding, and it’s my favorite thing ever.”

Fields also said she enjoys the staff and their encounters. 

“I love the lunch ladies. They are so sweet, and they’re ready to talk to you at 8 a.m. right before school.”

McEwen is typically open for breakfast from 7:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. on weekdays and serves a brunch-style meal on weekends from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. with breakfast and light lunch options.

Runner up: Lakeside Dining Hall

Located within the Colonnades Neighborhood, Clohan Dining Hall offers students a steady rotation of stir-fry, pizza, burgers and sandwiches for lunch and dinner. With its consistent quality and meals, Clohan is and has been a popular choice for many students, including senior Jeremiah Lee. 

The main thing that has kept Lee returning to the spot for almost four years are the connections he has formed with the employees, in particular, one worker who would always wrap up leftover food for him to take home.

“I came in freshman year and she just adopted me,” Lee said. “She found out I loved the white pizza there and she would specifically bake a whole pizza for me to take home. She would saran-wrap it, give it to me, and say, ‘Take it, don’t be skinny.’”

Lee remembered countless personal stories about different employees, mentioning many of them by name. Because of this, and the way he was treated by the employees, Clohan became a staple for Lee.

“I got close with all the workers there and they just started treating me like their own little baby. I stay true and loyal,” Lee said. 

A similar commitment is shared by sophomore Ethan Perry, who described the Clohan experience to include energetic and kind employees, quality food and a good place to hang out with friends. 

“The staff there are just awesome. Whenever I go there, I always get a burger and fries,” Perry said. “I feel like the dude there just knows my order.”

Runner up: McEwen Dining Hall

Located within Danieley Commons, Qdoba Mexican Eats is a popular pick amongst Elon students. The made-to-order Mexican-inspired restaurant offers guests an array of possible combinations between their fresh and quality ingredients to make a burrito, quesadilla or bowl. As a retail option, Qdoba’s speed and convenience are preferred by many students. 

As someone living off-campus, senior Sam Silander prefers Qdoba in part because of the ease it offers commuters. 

“If I’m driving and parking, the parking is nice and I’d say there’s a generally positive attitude from all of the workers. Also, they work pretty efficiently, even if it’s packed, so I appreciate that,” Silander said. 

Silander said it was the best retail option on campus due to its quality ingredients.

“It tastes fresher than anything else on campus. Also, it’s high in protein. We love that,” Silander said. 

Silander’s bowl order: white rice, black beans, one scoop of regular chicken and one scoop of cholula chicken, a smidge of lettuce, and corn salsa with a sweet tea. 

Out of the many options available at Qdoba, Silander recommended his personal go-to order and one of the restaurant’s brownies, which he claims are underrated. A common theme among Silander and his friends was to opt for a bowl, over a burrito or quesadilla.

Runner up: McEwen Dining Hall